Despite ban, illicit liquor sold openly in rural areas, while govt. sleeping

Nitesh Sangral

JAMMU, Mar 22: The menace of illicit liquor is growing in Jammu and Kashmir, but it seems the government is in deep slumber to deal with this and save the youth. In recent months police has smashed number of dens were it was being manufactured and distributed among the people particularly the unemployed youth, ruining their families and personal life. It is penitent to mention here that the two days ago Headquarter Superintendent of Police (SP) along with Station House Officer (SHO) Bishana arrested some people one of them he is police constable. The government imposed ban on illicit liquor as well as sale and production of illicit liquor in the state but some people continue to make it with the help of police authorities. The people are uneducated and unemployment and only doing the business of illicit liquor from the last many years. According to official source the police officials also involved in this practice and make a huge number of illicit liquor in the many villages of the district Bishana. The police officials also charged 'Hafta' from them and occasionally also conducted raids just for the name sake. He further said that there are belonging to a particular community allegedly involved in production of the country made liquor. He stated that the youth easily attractive on this practice to earn a lot of money simply. In this area, illicit liquor is publicly supplied every day allegedly in connivance of local police and liquor traders of the district, he added”. However none of the police officials wanted to spoke with TNI when contacted. While Inspector General of Police (IGP) Dilbag Singh said he cannot speak on the issue and concerned officials. Interestingly, police official’s also works with these accused persons for making illegal practices and no body stopped them. A senior police official on condition of anonymity said that despite taking several measures to deal with the menace, it is becoming very difficult as people involved in the trade have high contacts. It is pertinent to mention here that Excise Department in J&K has collected a revenue of Rs 390.02 crore till October end last year, which is Rs 58.30 crore more as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. This puts question mark on the intentions of the government to deal with the illegally sold liquor in the state. Most of the rural and border areas are facing this menace which has become very alarming as young people are falling prey to the mafia involved in selling and distribution of the liquor.