Odisha govt to bolster Excise Department across districts

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government has announced an initiative to strengthen the Excise Department throughout Odisha, following a period of disorder left by the previous government, Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan said on Sunday.

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“We will dismantle the hubs of traders involved in the illicit liquor trade. For this purpose, the State government is empowering the Excise Department in every district. The move aims to address the challenges posed by unauthorised activities and to ensure better regulation within the sector,” the Law Minister asserted.

“Efforts are being made to streamline the monitoring system of the Excise Department in all districts and to completely destroy the bastions of those who have been doing illegal trading of liquor in the State. The process has already started,” the Law Minister said.

Worth mentioning, in an incident that occurred earlier, Excise Department officials were allegedly attacked while conducting a raid on suspected illegal liquor trade in Kalahandi district, on January 9. An altercation erupted in Kanarla village under the Bhatangapadar panchayat in the district.

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Some residents of the village allegedly vandalised government vehicles and assaulted some personnel of the Excise Department by chasing them during the raid. At least two constables were injured in the attack. Later, they were admitted to a hospital in Bhawanipatna for treatment.