11 arrested for illicit liquor trade in city

Reported by Santosh Jagdev

Bhubaneswar, Oct 24:

The city Excise sleuths arrested eleven persons involved in illegal sale of liquor in the city after a raid in Saliasahi slum here late on Wednesday night and forwarded them to court on Thursday, police said.

The accused have been identified as Nilamani Sahu, Mithun Kisku, Anil Nayak, Siba Marandi, Bapi Murmu, Sirdhar Murmu, Kahna Hansda, Gopal Marandi, Ratha Tuddu, Musu Marandi and Juba Hansda, all from Salia Sahi colonies under the Nayapalli police limits.

Officer in charge of Excise department Samuel Ekka said, “Based on a tip-off, our team conducted a raid in Saliasahi colonies Idco Basti and Behera Sahi under Nayapalli police limits late on Wednesday night. The persons arrested from different locations of the slum were involved in brewing and sale of illegal country made liquor in the city.”

Samuel said, ” the Excise  team along with Nayapalli police had arrested 10 persons including three women involved in illegal liquor trade in the slum on September 27 this year . Based on their statements we came to know that some more persons were also involved in this illegal business following which we decided to conduct the raid”.

“We have seized 300 litres country made alcohol, 800 litres Handia and 800 kg ‘Pocha’, the raw material used for preparation of hooch from their possession which is worth more than Rs 2 lakh,” Ekka added.

A case has been registered against the accused under section 47A and 52A of Bihar and Odisha Excise Act and under 272, 273 of IPC.