Huge cache of liquor seized in Chenab valley

Assembly polls

‘360 liters of local wine, 75 IMFL bottles and 120 beer Bottles peddled into region’

PS BALI

Jammu, Nov 24: Election flying squads and police teams have seized several hundred liters of wine from across Chenab Valley, reportedly peddled in the region to lure the voters on the polling day.

“The teams  deployed to monitor and check the  Model Code  of Conduct violations, in the past some days, have seized a huge quantity of liquor, suspected to be meant for distribution among voter(s) in the Chenab Valley, which is going to polls tomorrow” highly placed sources said.

According to sources in the election offices, the teams seized over 360 liters of local wine (frooties), besides 75 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and 120 bottles of beer, probably peddled in Chenab Valley to influence voters.

They said that the police and election monitoring teams have recovered over 600 pouches of local wine, each 250 ml and 25 bottles of IMFL, besides 40 beer Bottles from two constituencies of Doda district.

They added that from two constituencies of Kishtwar, police have recovered 400 pouches of local wine, each 250 ml, besides 20 bottles of IMFL and 50 beer Bottles.

 Similalry from two constituencies of Ramban, over 440 pouches of local wine, each 250 ml and 30 bottles of IMFL, besides 30 beer Bottles have been recovered.

They further said that the police had seized rupees over seven lakh in three districts, which were  released after proper scrutiny.

Talking to Greater Kashmir SSP Doda, Sharief Chouhan admitted that since the election announcement for the first phase, they have recovered liquor, ‘illegally’ being peddled in the region, but whether it was for the purpose of influencing voters or selling is yet to be ascertain. “We are investigating the purpose for which the liquor was being peddled into the region. All the liquor was seized from vehicles, but detained persons did not name any political party,” he said and added that they had seized Rs 1.42 lakh from a businessman, who was   released after proper investigation.

Meanwhile, District Election Officer (DEO) Kishtwar, Mohammad Javed Khan told Greater Kashmir that they have tightened noose around suspected elements  and  seized liquor, besides cash being transported in the region.

“We are frisking every vehicle to ensure that no material ‘offensive’ to MCC is brought in the region. In the past some days we have seized some liquor, besides cash of Rs 4.65 lakh, which was   released after scrutiny,” said he, adding “We have put all possible machinery in function to ensure smooth polling in the region.”

Similarly, DEO Ramban, Farooq Shah Bukhari said that over 100 liters of liquor was seized by the police, but the purpose of transporting liquor in the region is not yet clear. He said that they were receiving frequent complaints regarding violation of MCC, but on investigation 95 percent of the cases turn baseless.

The DEO further said that to ensure smooth and fair elections they have dispatched polling teams to their respective booths.