Nine Arrested, Including Six Women, in Excise Raids in Jajpur

Akshya Rout,Odishabarta                                       

Jajpur : The Jajpur district Excise squad, along with departmental police personnel, conducted raids at several villages under Kalia­pani and Sukinda police station areas on Saturday, registering 10 cases and arresting nine persons allegedly involved in the illegal trade of country liquor.

Those arrested have been identified as Mani Sardar (36), wife of Luchin Sardar of Puri­ajhar Basti in Kalarangi; Gurubari Munda (40), wife of Madan Munda, and Mini Munda (54), wife of Ramesh Munda, both from Kalarangi; Sunei Champia (57), wife of late Chandan Champia of Giringamali village; Mangalsingh Badra (20), son of Niranjan Badra of Garamian; Par Lohar (55), wife of Babuli Lohar, and Sabitri Lohar (50), wife of late Dhruva Lohar, both from Mangalpur village.

The other two arrested are Subal Behera (57) of Balibo village under Bhu­ban police station, who was allegedly transporting illicit liquor, and Niranjan Nayak (35), son of Harihar Nayak of Abhayapur village.

A motorcycle bearing registration number OD-04-D-0479, allegedly being used to transport liquor, was seized from Subal Behera.

The excise officials seized a total of 502 litres of illegally distilled country liquor from the accused. More than 2,000 litres of fermented mahua wash, allegedly used for preparation of country liquor, were also seized from their houses.

The accused were produced before the court in separate cases. Their bail pleas were rejected and all nine were subsequently sent to judicial custody, officials said.

The raids were conducted under the direction of Jajpur Excise Superintendent Ajay Kumar Behera and led by departmental Inspector Keshab Chandra Das. ASI Debakanta Acharya and constables Shishir Pradhan, Suchitra Nayak, Rakesh Kumar Murmu and Dhableswar Mahanty were part of the raiding team.