To ensure that Guwahati city remains free from illegal liquor on Independence Day, Devajit Nath, Superintendent of Excise, Kamrup Metro district, had directed all Excise Circle Inspector offices in the district, including Guwahati Sadar, to conduct drives against illegal country and foreign liquor from the day before Independence Day until the day passed.
As part of that directive, the Jalukbari Excise Circle Inspector’s office under Jalukbari Sub-Division, under the supervision of Jalukbari Sub-Division Sub-Excise Superintendent Nairita Baruah, carried out a major operation on 14th and 15th August in the hilly areas near Maligaon – Adingiri, Kalapani, and Madhabdev Nagar – at illicit liquor distillation sites.
Led by Jalukbari Excise Circle Inspector C.K. Baruah and Assistant Excise Inspector Saifuddin Ahmed, and with the help of Police and CRPF, the excise team destroyed 7 illicit liquor distillation stills.
In addition, the same team conducted drives against illicit liquor sellers at Bhootnath, Shukurboria Weekly Market, Fatasil Ambari, and Pandu Railway Market.
On the evening of 14th August, the excise team also seized around 200 litres of illicit liquor at Bharalumukh from a Maruti Alto that was being smuggled in from the interior areas of Rangia in Kamrup district.
During the operation, approximately 5,000 kg of pach used in making illicit liquor, 450 litres of illicit liquor, and 15 different types of utensils and equipment used in liquor production were also seized.
In the drive, 6 people, including 5 women involved in making and selling illicit liquor, were caught red-handed and detained. Departmental cases were registered against the 6 detained persons under Section 53(1) of the Assam Excise Act and they were produced in court.
The seized illicit liquor and pach were later destroyed as per departmental rules.
