HASSAN: The death of two persons due to consumption of spurious liquor in Hindalahalli village of Holenarsipur taluk recently has forced the district police to divert their attention from bootleggers to those active in the manufacturing and sale of "thirds" liquor.

"Thirds" liquor, according to excise officials, is spurious liquor manufactured by small-time players who have not bagged any Excise contract and former employees of breweries who lost their jobs when the Government clamped down on the sale of "seconds" liquor.

The sale of "thirds" liquor in the district has posed a challenge to the police, as the Government has decided to hold the district administration responsible for any deaths due to consumption of spurious liquor.

Ten arrested

The Superintendent of Police, Panduranga H. Rane, said that police have arrested five persons in connection with the Hindalahalli incident.

They have been identified as Balaraj (owner of a bar in Holenarsipur), Anasuya (his wife), Umesh, Srinivas and Diwakar. The District Magistrate has remanded them in police custody, he said.

On a tip-off, the police raided a "thirds" liquor-manufacturing unit in the Mutton Market area of Hosline Road of Hassan city and arrested five persons. The officials seized spirit, essence used to manufacture branded liquor, bottling equipment, labels of various reputed companies and security seals, he said.

The names of the arrested have been given as Shailesh, owner of the manufacturing unit, and Lokesh, K.B. Shivanna, Basavaraj and H.S. Harish, who were selling "thirds" liquor in petty shops of Channapura and Hongeri villages of Shanthigrama hobli in Hassan taluk. They have been booked under the Excise Act.

Procurement

Mr. Rane said the arrested admitted that they had been trained in the manufacture of spurious liquor and were doing business for the past six months in the district. They procured spirit, sealing materials and labels from neighbouring districts. A special team has been formed to apprehend those aiding the manufacture of "thirds" liquor.

"They are charging the price equivalent to the price of original liquor to avoid suspicion," Mr. Rane said.

The Hindalahalli incident gave a clue to the thriving parallel liquor-manufacturing units in the district, he said. Police have arrested 112 persons in connection with illegal sale of liquor in 114 cases in the last five months.

Mr. Rane said he conducted a meeting of excise and police officials of various taluks. He said that those providing information on spurious liquor will be suitably rewarded.

Security to tankers

On identifying the source of methyl alcohol, which resulted in many deaths in Bage, Tubinakere and Satenahalli, Mr. Rane said the department is providing security to tankers transporting methyl alcohol from New Mangalore Port to Bangalore on National Highway 48.

Four held

On the double murder in Kyatanahalli of Holenarsipur taluk recently, he said police have arrested four persons identified as Babu, Dileep, Raghu and Shivanna of Satenahalli and seized choppers used for the murder.

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