Bhubaneswar: Even as the spurious liquor tragedy at Chikiti in Ganjam district- that left a trail of 2 deaths with 20 more still battling for life – rocked the Odisha Assembly, the State Excise Department Thursday claimed to have seized 20,746 litres of illicit country liquor during multiple raids carried across the state during the past two days. A senior Excise official said 373 persons were booked under relevant Sections of Excise Act in connection with the cases, while 262 of them have already been forwarded to various courts. The enforcement also led to the seizure of 26 vehicles.
Elaborating further, he said two accused, Tikaram Sahoo and Maheswar Gibela of Balangir district were arrested in connection with the possession of 77 litres of illicit liquor. They had been booked six times in the past by the Excise Department. Similarly, Labani Rout, a native of Kalahandi district was rounded up in connection with manufacturing of spurious alcohol. The department has seized 80 litres of alcohol from his possession. In the Capital City too, two men have been arrested for allegedly possessing approximately 550 litres of country-made alcohol, under Tamando police station jurisdiction. “Further probe is underway to nab the owner of unit where the liquor was manufactured,” he said.
