Baripada, April 10: In a major crackdown on illegal liquor trade, the Excise Department conducted a series of raids in different parts of Mayurbhanj district, seizing a huge quantity of country liquor and mahua pocha and arresting three persons.
The joint operation was carried out by the Baripada Sadar Excise Police Station and the Baripada Mobile Unit on Thursday afternoon in areas including Jagannathpur, Kundalbani, Mahulia and Jyotipur under Baripada Sadar limits.
During the raids, officials seized 28 litres of country liquor from Kashiram Singh and 25 litres from Pabitra Singh in Jagannathpur village. In a separate action at Kundalbani, 27 litres were recovered from Durga Singh. All three accused were arrested and later forwarded to court.
In addition, a large cache of illicit liquor was seized from other locations. Officials recovered 390 litres of country liquor and 4,500 litres of mahua pocha from Mahulia, while 230 litres of country liquor and 4,150 litres of mahua wash were seized from Jyotipur.
Overall, the excise team seized 700 litres of country liquor and 8,650 litres of mahua pocha, which were later destroyed.
The raid was conducted under the supervision of Baripada Mobile Unit IIC Sanjay Kumar Kandi and Sadar Excise OIC Prahallad Biswal. A team of excise officials, including ASIs and staff members, took part in the operation.
The department has indicated that similar enforcement drives will continue to curb illegal liquor trade in the region.
