The Hindu : War on hooch no cakewalk

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Apr 13, 2002

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Other States - New Delhi

War on hooch no cakewalk

By Prashant Pandey

EVEN AS two high level inquiries have been set up to probe the suspected liquor deaths in the Capital over the past week, many loopholes -- being exploited by vested interests -- have to be plugged to effectively stop this illicit liquor trade.

Unfortunately, to begin with, the police of the neighbouring States, from where the liquor is supplied to the Sansi tribe -- allegedly involved in the trade in a big way -- have not been of much help. Two teams of Delhi police, who had gone to pick samples from a distillery at Faridabad in Haryana over the weekend, had to face a non-cooperative attitude of the local police and distillery owners.

Police say the smuggling of country-made liquor into the Capital cannot be stopped unless the porous borders are plugged completely, which is not possible. The Sansis, living in slum areas, provide liquor virtually at the door-step of customers at rates cheaper than what is available at authorised liquor vends.

The liquor is further diluted, depending on the demand. "It is like adding water to the curry,'' said a Shakurpur resident. This liquor, which can turn poisonous due to variation in the proportion of water or other chemicals, is freely available. For instance, in each block of Shakurpur, there are at least three to four Sansi houses where the liquor is available.

Residents squarely blame the police for turning a blind eye. Many accuse the police of accepting money and allowing the trade to flourish. According to them, police allow liquor to be sold illegally even in the vicinity of police stations. When a "tragedy'' occurs, police prompt them to go underground. The Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) has been asked to probe the collusion of police personnel in the entire racket.

But, there is another side too. Police say there are persons, who try to mislead people to serve their own interests, in the name of compensation. The mother of an ill youth at Shakurpur alleged that some persons tried to convince her to blame her son's illness on spurious liquor, though it was not so. They told her she would get compensation.

Also, a long list, furnished by a local leader -- who unsuccessfully fought the recent MCD elections from Ward No. 29 -- was faulty. While the list claimed that the deaths occurred in the "past three days'', it was found that at least one of them had died on March 15. Another death had taken place on February 9. He also claimed that a father-son duo had died on April 5 and 6 due to consumption of liquor, something categorically denied by the family of the deceased.

Police officials said a person, allegedly involved in Sura tragedy of 1989 and having many Excise cases against him, was behind such rumours.

Moreover, police say that smuggling of liquor is also aided to suit political interests. In fact, police had launched a special drive to weed out smugglers and illicit liquor last month in view of Holi and the MCD elections. The apprehension being the parties could try to woo voters with free availability of liquor.

The seizures were whopping. At least 1,134 cases were registered under Excise Act, 1,197 persons arrested and 1.29 lakh pouches, 17,710 bottles of country-made liquor and 15,074 bottles of IMFL were recovered. In the first week of April too 235 persons were arrested.

But the Excise Act is bailable, which means the person indulging in the illicit trade can soon be free and restart the same. Police are now probing the possibility of invoking Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the matter.

It is clear that hard measures would have to be enforced.

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War on hooch no cakewalk