Jamshedpur, July 5: Dr. Anup Kumar Mandal of Majhgaon village under Potka block of East Singhbhum district has in a letter to DC Amit Kumar urged the latter to help stop the illegal liquor trade in different panchayats of the block.
According to the letter, foreign liquor and desi wine are being sold in grocery shops of different panchayats of Potka block.
The excise and liquor prohibition department along with the help of Potka police station raided shops in Sangram village on July 4and arrested one grocery shop owner in this connection.
The department found illegal liquor in large quantities. Similar shops can also be found at Majhgaon and surrounding villages (Bhalki, Jamda, Bhelaidih,Harina, Bangalibasa etc) under Kowali police station, Dr. Kumar wrote.
He informed that a person named Boltu Jha, a resident of Hata allegedly supplying illicit wine, is responsible for the flourishing illicit liquor trade in the remote villages of Potka block. He is said to be hand in glove with the police and concerned excise department officials and gets information about the raids beforehand.
As soon as Jha receives information, he sends warning to the shopkeepers by making phone calls. Jha reportedly did the same thing on July 4. He made a call to all the shopkeepers in Sangram village about the forthcoming raid. Since the shopkeeper who has been arrested didn’t receive his call, he was not able to escape. If the call details of the shopkeepers in the village are taken out, all information can be verified, the letter stated.
Urging the deputy commissioner to take necessary actions, he requested secrecy about the raids to make the effort fruitful.