ALAPPUZHA: A nexus among politicians, officials, and the so- called spirit lobby is the main factor that made Kayamkulam and nearby areas in Alappuzha district the nerve centre of illegal spirit trade in the State.

A report of the chief investigation team of the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) which inquired into a complaint of Ali Akbar, a policeman who formerly worked in Kayamkulam, has references to the police-politician-spirit mafia nexus in Kayamkulam. The report submitted to the commission in March 2004 has been lying in cold storage for more than two years.

The investigation team, headed by Inspector-General of Police Thomas Mathew, had examined 24 witnesses in the petition filed by Mr. Akbar, who had been a member of the crime squad of the Kayamkulam Deputy Superintendent of Police and the Alappuzha district Superintendent of Police. Mr. Akbar had complained that the Vigilance had trapped him in a case to help the spirit lobby and a section of the police who had links with the lobby. Mr. Akbar had been instrumental in the seizure of around one lakh litres of spirit and illicit liquor from Kayamkulam and nearby areas.

Sources in the commission said the report had recommended a judicial inquiry into the incidents that led to the arrest of Mr. Akbar. The report had recommended that an inquiry be conducted into the illegal arrack trade in Alappuzha district and transportation of hooch between Alappuzha and Kayamkulam.

Sources said that several witnesses who appeared before the investigation team had given statements to the team on the links of leaders of various political parties with the spirit lobby.

There had been several instances of the lobby transporting spirit using vehicles brought from political leaders. The seizure of spirit from a car that once belonged to the Alappuzha district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) had been in the news earlier. The spirit lobby brought the car during an auction.

Similarly, a car that belonged to a Kerala Congress (B) leader had been seized with spirit from Kayamkulam during the rule of the previous United Democratic Front Government. The spirit lobby buys cars of political parties and leaders and often does not change the ownership. This is being done to escape from the police if caught.

Around one lakh litres of spirit and illicit liquor had been seized in Kaymkulam during 1999-2001 and 69 vehicles used for the transportation of spirit confiscated. There are allegations that the investigation in many of the cases has left enough room for the culprits to escape. It is pointed out that the police or the excise does not make any effort to bring to book the kingpins of the spirit trade.

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