Excise Department Cracks Down on Illicit Liquor in Major Raid
Joint Search Operations in 'Mand' Areas Unearth Huge Haul of Laahn and Liquor
Excise Department Cracks Down on Illicit Liquor in Major Raid
Joint Search Operations in 'Mand' Areas Unearth Huge Haul of Laahn and Liquor
Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha/April 21
In a crackdown against illicit liquor, Punjab's Excise Department launched a large-scale inter-district joint search operation this morning in the sensitive "Mand" areas under the Dasuya Excise Circle in Hoshiarpur district. The aim was to curb illegal liquor production, prevent revenue losses, and safeguard public health.
The operation was overseen by SSP Sandeep Malik and Assistant Excise Commissioner Hanuwant Singh, with on-ground leadership from Excise Officer Hoshiarpur-2 Preet Bhupinder Singh. DSP Dasuya Hargurdeep Singh, SHO Dasuya Amarjeet Kaur, SHO Talwara Satpal Singh, and several senior police officers were also present.
Teams from Hoshiarpur Excise Department, Gurdaspur Excise Department, and Punjab Police participated. Hoshiarpur's excise team included Inspectors Parvinder Kumar, Ajay Kumar, Rashpal Singh, Lovpreet Singh, and Kulwant Singh, while Gurdaspur range provided support from Inspectors Deepak, Pankaj Gupta, and Kashmir Singh.
Assistant Commissioner Hanuwant Singh said the searches began around 6 am and lasted over six hours. Extensive raids were conducted in sensitive "Mand" areas along the Beas riverbanks, particularly in villages Bhikhowal, Terakiana, and Saidpur—known hotspots for illicit distillation due to rugged terrain and proximity to water sources.
A massive haul of materials used for illicit liquor production was seized and destroyed on the spot. It included 15 tins, 8 iron drums, 4 active stills, 5 plastic cans, about 50,000 kg of laahn (fermented wash) in 95 tarpaulins, and 75 litres of illicit liquor.
The Assistant Excise Commissioner emphasized that such actions are crucial to dismantle illicit supply chains, protect revenue, and ensure public safety. He added that operations in sensitive areas will intensify, with strict enforcement of excise laws. This joint effort will play a key role in curbing the illegal liquor trade.
