Kerala - Alappuzha   

Move afoot to stall probe into illegal spirit movement

ALAPPUZHA: Even as the Inter-State Illicit Spirit Movement Investigation (ISISMI) team led by Inspector-General of Police (Crimes) Rishi Raj Singh is continuing to crack the whip on the spirit lobby in the State, attempts are allegedly being made to stall the team’s functioning.

The attempts, police sources said, were concentrated in Alappuzha district, the southern region of which is considered to be the headquarters of the lobby that operates with tentacles that reach as far as Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Karnataka. A majority of the spirit seizures by the ISISMI team were from Alappuzha.

The reported move to transfer Mavelikara Circle Inspector A. Naseem, who was directed by Mr. Singh to proceed with investigation into the illicit spirit hauls of the ISISMI team in the region, is being perceived by the police as a ploy of the lobby. The kingpins of the lobby, a senior member of the ISISMI team told TheHindu, are known for their nexus with politicians as well as with the police.

“The nexus between the spirit lobby, politicians and certain officers in the police is a well-known fact. In fact, a report by a committee constituted by the State Human Rights Commission in 2004, enquiring into a complaint of Ali Akbar, a policeman who was a member of the anti-spirit squad here, has clear references to the police-politician-spirit mafia nexus.

The move to transfer Mr. Naseem, who ignored pressures from the lobby and proceeded with investigation, has to be seen as an attempt by the lobby to stall the progress of Mr. Singh’s team,” a top police official told The Hindu on condition of anonymity.

Incidentally Mr. Akbar, who was instrumental in the seizure of around one lakh litres of spirit and illicit liquor from the district in 1999-2001, is also a member of the ISISMI team.

Mr. Naseem, who had accompanied Mr. Singh during the raids on a bar in Haripad, was also part of the team during raids in Nooranad, Chengannur and Kayamkulam.

“Eight years ago, a lorry carrying spirit was seized by the police. The lorry exploded mysteriously while in custody, killing five people. One of these was the brother of a senior police officer. But so far, not a single culprit has been arrested. You can judge the influence of the lobby from that,” the police official adds.

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