The arrested persons have been identified as Chinimini Barik, a constable attached to bomb disposal squad, Ranoj Das, an auto driver and Babu Sahu. As per reports, Barik was running the factory.
The Bada Bazaar police busted the liquor unit while acting on a tip off on smuggling of spurious liquor bottles in an auto rickshaw on Friday night.
According to sources, the cops immediately swung into action and intercepted the vehicle on Aska road.
“Upon a thorough search, eight cartoons each containing 48 bottles of liquor with label of a noted brand were found concealed in the auto rickshaw. In the look, the bottles were the same as the original ones,” said Berhampur town SDPO Bishnu Prasad Pati.
During interrogation, Sahu spilled the bean and informed the police that Barik was infact the owner of the illegal liquor factory. Later, Sahu led the cops to the liquor processing unit which was run in the guise of a poultry farm. Police seized a huge amount of packaging and other raw materials from the spot.
A huge cache of caps, empty bottles, 404 duplicate packed liquor bottles, labels, one litre spirit and one litre pocha (fermented mahua flower) were seized from the spot.
During the raid at the factory, Barik who had been away on office duty was nabbed by police from Bhubaneswar and brought to Bada Bazaar police station.
SDPO Pati further said that Barik had employed Sahu in the illegal syndicate. "While the former was looking after the marketing part, Sahu’s job was to supply the products at destinations. Barik told us that he had been in the business for just 15 days. We are verifying it,” informed Pati.
The police have produced the trio in the court. A detailed investigation is underway to find out other persons involved in the clandestine business and the supply locations.
Cuttack: Police today raided an edible oil godown at Nuasahi near Khannagar here on charges of adulteration and seized more than 300 oil-filled containers.
The cops also detained two persons, including the owner of the godown for interrogation.
During the surprise raid, containers, bottles, plastic packets of different brands and machines used for packaging of oil were also seized from the spot.The godown used to sell the spurious oil across the State under various brand names such as Gold Winner, Freedom, Sehat and Double Hiran.
“Investigation will be conducted to find out since when such illegal activities have been going on in the godown and where the products were being supplied to,” informed a senior police official.
Meanwhile, samples of the seized oil have been sent for test to check the amount of adulteration. Further action will be taken accordingly, said the police, adding that plans are afoot to raid more godowns in coming days.
During the search, officials recovered huge quantities of spurious liquor as well as empty bottles along with various ingredients used in the manufacturing unit. The team also arrested the factory owner Rabindra Padhee for his alleged involvement in the racket.
Soro SI Kulamani Maharana said, "Liquor bottle caps, chemicals including colour and 30 litres of spirit have been seized from the unit. Further investigation is on."
Besides, the officials headed by Excise Superintendent Manoj Sethy conducted raids at various places in Ada and Kupari villages under Simulia police limits and seized country-made liquor. They also arrested two persons in this connection.
As per reports, contraband weighing 22 gram along with a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle was seized from the accused identified as Prasanna Sahoo. Approximate value of seized property is stated to be Rs 4 lakh.
In another case of non-duty paid (NDP) liquor, acting on direction of Khurda Collector, Excise officials raided a house at Sitaram Basti in Khandagiri area here.
Three accused were arrested by the officials and 400 bottles of duplicate Aska-40 liquor, 20 litres of spirit, 200 corks, 200 empty Aska-40 bottles with label, three needles of 5-inch each, one refrigerator and three Scooties were seized from their possession.
The accused were identified as Pradeep Pradhan, Pintu Biswal and Sanjaya Kumar Sahoo.
Even as the illegal trade has become rampant in the area, local administration and excise department have utterly failed to curb the business.
An on-ground investigation by OTV from Kharanasi in the district revealed that local brand Aska-40 is being sold even after its expiry date. Data obtained showed several brands bear 22. 03.2017 as the date of packaging and an instruction to use the beverage within 45 days. But, these liquor bottles are being sold unhindered in the area even beyond their expiry date.
The Excise department and local administration raided the shops and seized over 3000 Aska-40 and other brands recently after getting information from OTV investigation. At least four persons have been detained and being questioned in this connection.
The local administration promised action against the erring traders. "They are selling the expired liquors. The consumption of these may cause serious health problems", Tehsildar Bichitrananda Nayak said during a raid.
The deceased has been identified as Kartik Nayak who was set to get married today. According to sources, Kartik along with 7 others consumed illegally-sold alcohol on April 26th.
All of them were taken to a private hospital in Bhadrak where Kartik died. All the other seven persons are undergoing treatment.
The Bhadrak sub-collector along with other administrative officials visited the hospital while the Tihidi police visited the village and begun investigation.
“We had consumed alcohol. Then my head started reeling and I felt like vomiting. I bought it from a shop in our village,” said Suresh, one of the hospitalised persons.
“We have asked the Tihidi IIC and the excise department officials to visit the village and conduct an inquiry. The real reason behind the death can be known only after the probe report,” said Bhadrak sub-collector, Narottam Behera.
“As far as I can tell the patients had symptoms akin to that which arises out of poisonous liquor consumption,” said doctor at the Tihidi Community Health Centre, Pravash Mohanty.
Official sources, however, put the death toll at six. The incident took place in Raniganj of Ramnagar area. Nearly two dozen persons have been admitted to the district hospital in a serious condition.
All the victims had purchased liquor from a government outlet leased to one Danvir Singh and minutes after consuming the same, they complained of loss of eyesight.
Sources said that Danvir Singh was selling spurious liquor form the government outlet and owned an illicit liquor factory.
All senior official of the district have reached the hospital and investigations into the matter have begun. Sources said that the amount of spirit in the liquor was much above permissible limits.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has taken a serious view of the incident and Inspector Ramnagar and circle officer Pawan Gautam have been suspended. An inquiry has also been ordered into the incident.
Among the victims are three brothers, Ramesh, Mukesh and Sonu and their father Chhotelal. All four died after consuming the spurious liquor. Ramesh's wife Ramavati told reporters that there is no male member left in the family even to carry out the last rites of the four victims.
Aligarh police have registered three cases and arrested six persons in this case. Several officials including the district excise officer have been suspended.
The district administration has however said that all deaths are not related to spurious liquor but there are other reasons as well. The matter is under investigation.
Divisional Commissioner Gaurav Dayal said that there have been a total of 22 deaths so far due to the consumption of illicit alcohol in three police station areas of Aligarh.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)'s Public Relations Officer, Krishna Kumar Singh, said the police have registered three cases and arrested Anil Chaudhary, an accused in the liquor smuggling racket, and six people. Two main accused are still absconding on whom a reward of Rs 50,000 each has been announced.
Following the incident, the Uttar Pradesh government has suspended District Excise Officer Dheeraj Sharma, Excise Inspector Rajesh Yadav, Constable Ashok Kumar, Inspector Chandraprakash Yadav and Constable Ramraj Rana on charges of negligence.
A large number of people consumed country liquor on Thursday night across seven villages in Aligarh. As many as 17 people died on Friday while five people died on Saturday morning taking the toll to 22. The toll is likely to increase. The condition of many people admitted to the district hospital remains critical.
The people in Lodha, Khair and Jawan blocks of Aligarh bought country liquor from different liquor shops on Thursday evening and consumed it.
Sunil of Karsua village in Lodha block started vomiting at night. As a result his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to the district hospital where he died. Shortly afterwards several other people of the village started vomiting after consuming spurious liquor.
The district administration and excise department teams have sealed the liquor shops here. The villagers claim that death occurred due to consumption of spurious alcohol.
District Magistrate Chandrabhushan Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the matter. Four liquor shops have been sealed. Till the investigation is over, all country liquor shops in the district will remain closed. Prima facie investigation reveals sale of spurious liquor from a government shop in which several government contractors are also involved. During a meeting, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed the Home and Excise Departments to carry out raids against illegal liquor trade within the next 48 hours.
The Chief Minister said strict action will be taken against all the accused. The National Security Act (NSA) will be used against the accused persons. If spurious liquor is purchased from a government liquor shop it would be immediately sealed. The property of the accused will be confiscated and auctioned and given as compensation for the kin of the deceased.
Senior police officials informed that usually the demand of liquor goes up during election and the Commissionerate Police has already started a special drive to curb such illegal manufacture and sale of liquor.
Police Commissioner Satyajit Mohanty informed that as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India, a special drive has already begun in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar to arrest the habitual offenders, execution of pending warrants, and to conduct other enforcement activities.
“Usually the liquor demand goes up as it is used as a medium to influence the voters during elections. Clear instructions have been issued to all IICs to conduct special drives against manufacture and sale of illegal liquor trade,” said Mohanty.
Senior officials informed that special squads and quick action teams will be pressed into service to conduct raids at different places in the twin city.
According to sources, a group of villagers consumed liquor near Pira Hata area yesterday night and later several of them fell ill. While one of them reportedly died in the village, two others died while undergoing treatment at Bhadrak hospital.
While 15 others have been admitted to Bhadrak hospital, three critically ill have been shifted to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
"It is yet to be clear whether the deceased and other critical patients consumed spurious liquor. Probe has been initiated at the administrative level to ascertain the exact cause of the liquor deaths." Bhadrak Collector Gyana Das said after taking stock of the situation at Bhadrak hospital.
Meanwhile, following the incident, locals and family members staged a protest on Bhadrak-Chandbali road.
Sources said, the district administration had ordered closure of all liquor shops in the district a day ago, but hours after the directive, the liquor deaths have now raised questions.
Speaking on the liquor deaths, Excise Department Secretary Nikunja Dhal, said, "A joint investigation will be done by Revenue, Health & Police departments. As the incident took place on polling day, we are taking this matter seriously."
"A joint investigation will be done by Revenue, Health & Police departments. As the incident took place on polling day, we are taking this matter seriously," says Excise Department Secretary Nikunja Dhal on #BhadrakLiquorDeaths pic.twitter.com/oiZRnIfdDN
— OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019
#Odisha Congress chief Niranjan Patnaik slams State govt on #BhadrakLiquorDeaths pic.twitter.com/gj60vMp6Ld
— OTV (@otvnews) April 30, 2019
The incident was reported from Saijanpur village of the Mahmudabad area, where one person - Vijay Kumar - was found dead on Tuesday evening and two others - Vinod Kumar and Sumerilal - died on Wednesday.
Four other residents of the village had been referred to a trauma centre in the area.
Superintendent of Police L.R. Kumar said two persons had been arrested in this connection and were being questioned about the source of the spurious liquor.
As per reports, the health condition of the youth started to deteriorate yesterday after consuming liquor. Later, family members of the youth admitted him to Bhadrak hospital. However, he died while undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Enraged over the death, the villagers blocked Basudevpur-Dhamra road at Chandimal chhak today demanding compensation as well as closure of the liquor shops in the area.
In May, the Bhadrak liquor tragedy had triggered political denunciation after the opposition parties—BJP and Congress held the ruling-BJD and the administration responsible for the incident. While 12 persons died, many were taken ill after allegedly consuming toxic liquor at a post-election feast in Nuasahi near Pirhata under Bhadrak’s Tihidi Police limits.
After the tragedy, the affected persons were admitted to Bhadrak district headquarters hospital (DHH) and Cuttack SCB Medical College and Hospital.
Hundreds of villagers, mostly women hit the streets protesting liquor business and staged a demonstration demanding arrest of the accused involved in the death of Nayak. Women seized huge quantity of liquor during the protest.
On Friday too, many women residents had seized liquor pouches at Gendapada village and burned them. They also set the house of a person, who reportedly produced liquor, on fire which had led to tension in the area.
While no action has been taken by the police yet in connection with the incident, sources said, the exact reason behind Sahdev's death will be ascertained only after a post-mortem report.
Around 30 people including Dhanphul reportedly fell sick after they consumed liquor and developed symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting and swelling in abdomen.
"He (Dhanphul Hoika) returned home after taking liquor in Kataguda. He complained of illness and stomach ache before dying at 1.30 PM yesterday," informed Dhanphul's relative.
All the sick persons were rushed to Kalyansinghpur Community Health Centre for treatment. Two of them were later shifted to Rayagada Hospital after their condition deteriorated further.
Taking a serious note of the incident, Rayagada district collector Pramod Behera ordered a probe into the matter.
The concerned Health and Excise officials including Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) visited Kalyansinghpur hospital to inquire about the health condition of the sick. Besides, they conducted a raid in Kataguda .
While the locals held the Excise department responsible for the liquor tragedy, the Excise officials claimed that the incident took place due to food poisoning. "They did not consume the wine from any of the licensed liquor units. They drank country-made wine and fell sick due to food poising," informed Dilip Gauda, Excise official, Rayagada.
One Pramod Sahu who had consumed the liquor died today at a hospital while condition of four others is still critical. Anil Pradhan and Tukuna Pradhan were the first victims and had died on Sunday. A day later, another person identified as Sashikant Deuri died while undergoing treatment.
All the victims are reportedly labourers and were engaged in the construction of a building. It is alleged that the contractor, who engaged them in the construction work, had supplied them liquor.
Sources said that the Excise department and local administration are conducting an inquiry into the matter. The police have also launched a probe on the direction of the SP.
District Excise superintendent, Ramendra Narayan Nayak said that industrial spirit was recovered from the construction site.
“A contractor from the village had given food and liquor to the labourers after work. We found industrial spirit from the spot. The post-mortem of the deceased has been completed. The report will establish the exact cause of their death,” Nayak said.
(Edited By Bikram Keshari Jena)
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Based on a tip-off about running of an illegal liquor manufacturing unit, a team of police conducted raid on the house of Aladi Singh and found country liquor in barrels for sale at the backyard of her house. The engineer daughter-in-law Saraswati Singh was also caught by police. Aladi's two sons, who are also said to be well-educated, managed to give the cops a slip.
Following the raid, police seized more than 1000 litre of country-made liquor and items used for manufacture, apart from Rs 1 lakh cash and some vehicles which included a four-wheeler.
Locals were in complete disbelief finding a civilized family's involvement in the country liquor trade.
SDPO Sarthak Ray informed, "Acting on the direction of SP, raids are being conducted by police personnel across the district to curb the menace of spurious liquor. Bhadrak Rural Police received information from a person regarding heavy availability, illegal manufacture and sale of liquor. A team led by the IIC raided a house in Aradipada area. Close to 1200 litres of ID liquor, an INDIGO car and Rs 1 lakh cash has been seized. Two accused have been arrested while further investigation in this connection is underway."
In the last 48 hours, Bhadrak Police has arrested six more persons based on cases registered at different police stations over sale of illicitly distilled (ID) liquor. During the period, police recovered 170 litres ID liquor from their possession.