Police in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district have cracked down on a liquor smuggling operation, pulling over a car packed with contraband alcohol and arresting three men. The bust comes even as neighbouring Madhya Pradesh grapples with a deadly spurious liquor tragedy in Sagar, where 15 people have died and more than 84 others have fallen ill, prompting authorities there to launch a strict investigation.
A tip-off leads to a roadblock
On the intervening night of September 5 and 6, police in Kanker's Korar station area received word from an informer that a white Swift Dzire was ferrying a large consignment of liquor. Acting on the tip, officers rushed to Chilhati Chowk in the Charama area and set up a mobile checkpost. When the car arrived, it was intercepted, and the three men travelling in it were identified as Prem Kumar Sinha, a resident of Charama, Umendra Baghel of Narharpur and Rohit Devangan of Jagdalpur.
Sixteen crates of beer and whisky found inside
A thorough search of the vehicle turned up seven crates of beer and nine crates of whisky, sixteen crates of liquor in total. None of the three men could produce valid documents for the alcohol, after which police declared the entire consignment illegal and seized it along with the car used to transport it.
Cash, phones and liquor worth over Rs 5.18 lakh confiscated
The 132 litres of liquor recovered has been valued at roughly Rs 73,000. Officers also recovered Rs 25,000 in cash and three smartphones from the accused. Counting the vehicle, the total value of everything seized in the operation has been put at more than Rs 5,18,000. Kanker's Additional Superintendent of Police, Yogesh Sahu, said, "On the SP's directions, action against illegal intoxicants is being carried out across the district under the 'Ujiyara Abhiyan'."
One accused already blacklisted by the excise department
Investigators found that one of the three, Prem Kumar Sinha, had already been blacklisted by the excise department in the past. He is also said to have previously worked at a liquor shop in Charama, giving him prior familiarity with the trade. Police are separately verifying the roles played by the other two accused, Umendra Baghel and Rohit Devangan.
Where was the liquor headed, and where did it come from?
Police are now trying to trace the liquor's origin and its intended destination. Early findings suggest that part of the seized stock had actually been produced within Chhattisgarh itself. The three smartphones recovered from the accused have been sent for examination, and officers say call detail record analysis of these phones is expected to reveal more about the wider smuggling network and anyone else involved.
Similar operations are continuing across the district, rattling those involved in the illegal liquor trade. Officials say checking drives and investigations under the Ujiyara Abhiyan will only intensify in the days ahead as police try to reach the full smuggling network.
