Kerala - Kochi   

Alert against illicit liquor

KOCHI: The district administration is maintaining high alert along the border to check flow of illicit liquor.

This year, it was decided to form strike forces from the district excise control room instead of entrusting the checking to divisions in eastern sector, said A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, District Collector.

The force was put on high alert at areas like Kuttampuzha and Kothamangalam. The border continued to be highly porous for high inflow of illicit liquor, said Mr. Hanish. The Collector had earlier called for increased alert, especially along coastal belt, forest region and entry-points to the district. Control rooms, which operate round-the-clock, started functioning at all circle offices of the Excise Department. The district-level meeting convened to discuss the preparations had also decided that name or address of callers who were willing to pass on information need not be collected. This step comes in the light of reluctance on the part of the public to give information.

The authorities had been trying to plug the leak in information provided. This year, they had tried the strategy of limiting the information to the top-level officials of the force. At the same time, the Excise officials had been asked to proceed cautiously. Taking the suggestions made at the Assembly Committee on Women Children and Disabled quite seriously, the department issued circulars to bring in some restrictions while searching vehicles.

It has been decided that only the leader of the search party will proceed with the search of vehicles that has women and children as passengers.

Also, in case of taking the vehicle into custody, the Excise officials have been asked to first ensure that women and children are brought to a safe place before proceeding with legal actions.

“It has also been decided that the presence of Excise personnel on main roads and highways will be increased during the season, along with local police,” said Thomas K. Abraham, Assistant Excise Commissioner, Ernakulam.

Preventive patrolling and surprise checks are also being planned as part of the special drive during the festival season. Personnel have been posted at railway stations to check long-distance trains, especially those coming via Mahe. This is after noting an increase in the incidences of smuggling in Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) through long-distance trains.

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