Latest news with #NashaMuktPunjab
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Time of India
Mohali police bust interstate liquor smuggling racket; 550 cartons seized
1 2 Mohali: The police have busted an interstate liquor smuggling network with the seizure of 550 cartons of English liquor from a truck intercepted at Nagla T-point in Handesra under the ongoing ' Nasha Mukt Punjab ' campaign on Sunday. The consignment, marked for sale in Chandigarh only, was being illegally transported across state lines. Acting on directions from Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the police conducted 'Operation Seal – VIII', laying out special check posts along interstate borders. A team from sub-division Derabassi intercepted the truck during the operation and arrested two individuals in connection with the smuggling. The accused have been identified as Deda Ram, a resident of Bhuniya, Barmer, and Bhupa Ram, a resident of Guda Malani, Barmer in Rajasthan. Mohali SSP Harmandeep Singh Hans, while addressing the media, said clear instructions had been issued to all teams manning the interstate checkpoints to rigorously inspect vehicles in order to prevent illegal activities, particularly the trafficking of drugs and liquor. "The vigilance and commitment of our teams at the checkpoints have yielded major results. The recovery of such a large consignment is a big step in dismantling the illegal liquor trade operating across state borders," the SSP said. A case under Section 61 of the Punjab Excise Act has been registered at Handesra police station, Derabassi. Investigations are underway to uncover the broader network behind the smuggling operation, with efforts focused on both forward and backward linkages in the supply chain.
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Hooch tragedy: MP Aujla seeks inquiry by sitting HC judge
Congress MP from Amritsar, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, on Friday, sought an inquiry by a sitting high court judge into the hooch tragedy in Majitha as well as other deaths due to drugs and spurious liquor in the state. Addressing a press conference here, Aujla said that chief minister Bhagwant Mann should take responsibility for the hooch tragedy, and direct the government officials, who were in charge and accountable, to tender their resignations. He also urged the central government to send a high-powered delegation to look into the drug and spurious liquor trade in Punjab. The Congress MP claimed that the state government's 'war on drugs' was completely disconnected from the ground reality, otherwise, this tragedy would not have happened. 'Five years ago, 120 deaths were reported due to spurious liquor in Amritsar, Batala, and Tarn Taran. Then, in March 2024, another 20 people lost their lives in Sangrur. No one knows what action was taken against the culprits, which is why there is no fear of the law. Now, it has happened again in my constituency,' lamented Aujla. Aujla said the recent hooch deaths exposed the claims of the current government's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab' campaign. 'I have been raising the alarm by writing to the DGP and government officials, highlighting the worsening drug crisis, particularly in Amritsar and the border areas, but all my missives were ignored,' he alleged, strongly urging the formation of a high-level committee under the supervision of a sitting high court judge to investigate the number of drug and liquor-related deaths over the years and to dismantle this dangerous network. Aujla urged the state government to reduce the price of country liquor so that poor people do not buy cheap and spurious liquor. 'The Punjab government is only focusing on revenue collection. Good quality liquor is not being sold at the actual price but at a higher rate; due to which the poor class is being forced to buy cheap and spurious liquor,' he claimed. On Monday, Aujla, in a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had urged him to declare cross-border smuggling of drugs arms as 'acts of terrorism.'
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gurjeet Singh Aujla blames Punjab government for hooch tragedy, demands judicial probe
Chandigarh: Citing the recent hooch tragedy in Amritsar district, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla on Friday said the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab govt's much-publicised 'war on drugs' was "completely disconnected from ground realities". Expressing grief over the death of 27 people in Amritsar's Majitha assembly constituency due to consumption of spurious liquor , the Amritsar MP said: "In 2020, 120 people died because of spurious liquor in Amritsar, Batala, and Tarn Taran. Then in March 2024, 20 more died in Sangrur. No one knows what action was taken against the culprits. This lack of accountability has emboldened others. Now it happened again, in my own constituency." Aujla claimed that the recent tragedy exposed the hollowness of the govt's 'Nasha Mukt Punjab' campaign. "The chief minister should take full responsibility for these tragic deaths and demand the resignations of all the officials who failed in their duty," he said. The Lok Sabha member further alleged that he repeatedly raised concerns with the director general of police, Punjab, and other officials about the worsening drug crisis, particularly in Amritsar and other border areas, but his warnings went unheeded. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo "I consistently highlighted the deep-rooted drug nexus and the rise of spurious liquor, but all my letters were ignored," he said. Aujla also drew attention to the growing issue of gambling – dhada satta – in Amritsar, which he said, along with drug abuse, was tarnishing the image of the holy city. He accused senior police officers and Punjab govt officials, including those from the excise department, of being in collusion with drug cartels. "There is a dangerous nexus that is destroying Punjab's future," he alleged. In light of the situation, Aujla urged the formation of a high-level committee under the supervision of a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court. The committee, he said, must investigate drug and liquor-related deaths over the years and dismantle the illegal networks operating in the state. The parliamentarian also called on the central govt to send a high-level delegation, led by a Supreme Court judge, to investigate the manufacturing and distribution of drugs and toxic liquor in Punjab, particularly in Amritsar. "This is essential, especially considering the spurious liquor was sold just 200 metres from a police station. Such proximity suggests tacit police support, which must be probed," he said. According to Aujla, the nexus extends to the liquor trade itself. "There appears to be an unholy alliance between high-ranking excise officials and political leaders," he said. The Congress MP further alleged that the Punjab govt was focused solely on revenue generation from liquor sales, resulting in inflated prices for legal liquor. "Good quality liquor is being sold at inflated rates, forcing poor people to resort to cheaper, often dangerous alternatives. The govt is pushing the poor toward death," he said while highlighting the comparative data on the minimum sale price versus actual sale price of various country-made liquor brands. He also claimed that illegal liquor manufacturers were ordering large quantities of ethanol without any govt checks. "The govt failed to act despite this clear red flag," said Aujla. "The proposed judicial inquiry into the hooch tragedy must also determine accountability. It is astonishing that despite the presence of multiple law enforcement and intelligence agencies – STF, ATF, and others – no one detected the large-scale movement of ethanol into Punjab or how it was being misused," he pointed out. Aujla demanded that the investigation should expose the "big fish" behind both the overpricing of liquor and the thriving spurious liquor trade in the state. MSID:: 121212390 413 |
