In Patiala, 1,600 liquor smuggling arrests in 2 years

PATIALA: Despite a clampdown, the fear of law seems to be no deterrent for liquor smugglers operating in Patiala, which falls on Punjab’s border with Haryana.
According to official data, 1,790 cases have been registered and 1,649 persons arrested in Patiala over last two years.
In its drive against liquor smuggling, district police have recovered 1,95,286 litres of liquor smuggled into Punjab from adjoining districts of Haryana, where the cost of liquor is less.
Cops have also recovered 10,705 litres of illicit liquor and 92,781 litres of Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL) that had been smuggled or was being traded in violation of laws. Also, 8,884 litres of beer have been recovered.
The enforcement agency also recovered 14,610 litres of spirit, which was to be used to manufacture adulterated liquor, and 4,842 litres of duplicate liquor in the past two years.
Patiala senior superintendent of police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu said police were still working on 27 new cases related to the illegal trade of liquor.
The cost of liquor in Punjab is at least 30% higher as compared to the adjoining state of Haryana. Multiple routes connecting villages located on the Punjab and Haryana border provide easy access to liquor smugglers.
A liquor smuggler, who is facing multiple cases, said there was a huge demand for cheap liquor in Punjab, especially in rural areas. “With strict restrictions imposed on other forms of drugs, including opium, people are mostly dependent on liquor for recreational purposes. As the cost of liquor is high in Punjab, bringing in cheaper liquor from Haryana is indeed a lucrative business,” he said.
SSP Sidhu said police have increased enforcement along border areas.