Kerala - Alappuzha   

Raids on toddy shops continue; two arrested

ALAPPUZHA: Continuing the crackdown on spirit lobby, the inter-State illicit spirit movement investigation team led by Inspector General of Police (Crimes) Rishi Raj Singh raided spirit dens and toddy shops in the Kayamkulam-Chengannur region on Wednesday.

Two persons, including a woman, were arrested while 1,470 litres of spirit, three vehicles, two mobile phones and a diary containing valuable information on the activities of the lobby were seized.

The raid, the second one in a week, began at around 2 a.m. with Mr. Singh and his team chasing and intercepting a jeep that was smuggling spirit from Kayamkulam. Pradeep, jeep driver, was arrested and five 35-litre plastic cans of spirit were seized from the jeep. Based on the information from Pradeep, the team raided a house near Koprapura junction in Kayamkulam, from where 33 more cans of spirit were seized.

Two vehicles, which were waiting to move the spirit from the house, were seized and another four cans of spirit retrieved from these cars. Smitha, wife of Rajesh to whom the house belongs, was also arrested as the jeep was registered in her name.

Cases were registered against Rajesh, Smitha and Pradeep.

Mr. Singh, who was accompanied by Assistant Superintendent of Police Anil Kuruvilla John and Mavelikara Circle Inspector A. Nasim, then proceeded to a toddy shop in Chengannur based on an information that spurious toddy was being sold there. However, the news of the raid reached the spot before the team could reach there.

Winding up the 10-hour-long operation by 12.30 p.m., Mr. Singh told reporters that the raids would be intensified in the coming days, no matter whatever opposition was raised by affected quarters.

“The aim is to track the source of the illicit spirit and stop its movement,” he said.

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