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Saturday, Feb 16, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Saturday, Feb 16, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
Easy money and demand factor have kept illicit distillation alive, says R. Rajaram Over the past few days, law enforcers in the Central Zone have stepped up their drive against prohibition offenders with a view to curb illicit arrack distillation. Carried out by different teams in their respective districts, the operation has led to the arrest of over 400 persons, including 82 women. Over one lakh litres of illicit arrack, 41,945 litres of fermented wash and 10 vehicles used for smuggling the c onsignment have been seized in the zone. Many habitual offenders have been detained under the Bootleggers Act in order to deter them from committing the crime. Notwithstanding such similar operations in the past, complete eradication of illicit distillation and sale of illicit arrack is yet to be fully achieved if the recent raids and seizure of the contraband is any indication. Though the illegal activity subsides for some time in certain areas following periodic drives carried out, it has only resurfaced time to time, posing a challenge to the police force. A host of factors such as easy money, the “demand” factor and little investment have all kept the illegal trade alive, say police officials. Those involved in the shady activity usually prefer areas close to river beds and the foot hills of the mountains for illicit distillation. These places are usually chosen primarily to avoid detection and to make the hunt very difficult for the police personnel, says a senior police official who has been tracking prohibition offenders. In Tiruchi district, the problem has been noted in certain areas in Lalgudi sub-division as well as in Somarasampet, Vathalai, Ramji Nagar and Tiruverambur where many found involved in illicit arrack distillation and sale have been apprehended. Many women have also been involved in the activity with their role predominantly confined to sale of the consignment. Going after illicit distillation points and those involved in the trade is not all that easy in the absence of specific information. With organised sellers also having their own network of informants to alert them in case of a police raid, the raiding party need to be all the more cautious while carrying out their operation, says a official. There have been occasions of raiding parties returning empty handed despite having spent a full day at the targeted areas. A senior police official says information about the shady activity have been coming forth from the public, utilising which several identified illicit distillation points have been cleansed in Tiruchi district. There have been surprise raids conducted by zonal teams, working under the direct supervision of the Inspector General of Police, Central Zone, against prohibition offences in Tiruchi and other districts even without the knowledge of the respective jurisdictional officer where the operation is carried out. This has been done to maintain secrecy. Every time the drive is intensified, things have been brought under check. However, it was difficult to maintain the tempo throughout given the multifarious duties and works of the local police, say police sources. Fearing police action and detention, many in Kolarpatti and in Thuraiyur who were previously involved in the trade have now given it up and turned a new leaf in their lives, claim police. Police officials themselves acknowledge that eradication of illicit arrack distillation is yet to be achieved, although things have been controlled. With illicit prohibition being one of the causes for crimes, the police authorities have planned to conduct such drives every month.
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