203 persons held in Karur prohibition raids

Wednesday, Apr 07, 2004

By Our Staff Reporter

KARUR, APRIL 6 . In continuing prohibition raids across the Karur district, the police have arrested 203 people, including 54 women, for prohibition-related offences during the past five days.

The Superintendent of police, Sandeep Mittal, while warning prohibition offenders of continued stern action has also directed the police officials that laxity on the prohibition front would land them in trouble.

Raids were conducted in the villages of Vengamedu, Thirukkampuliyur, Neelimedu, Periayandankoil, Panchamadevi, Thirumanilayur, Viswanathapuri, Nedungoor, Maravapalayam, Thottakurichi, Nerur, Manmangalam, Manavasi, Veerarakkiam, Kattalai, Poyyamani, Nangavaram, Nachalur, Nangavaram, Panikkampatti, Kavalkaranpatti and Malapatti.

According to Mr.Mittal, over 8,790 litres fermented wash, 8,533 litres illicitly distilled arrack, 23 litres toddy and 2,400 grams ganja were seized and destroyed during the raids in which a total of 203 people, including 54 women, have been arrested and remanded.

A total of five mopeds used to transport the contraband have been seized.

The Additional SP, Sundaram, the Deputy Superintendent of Police, Prohibition Enforcement Wing, Soundararajan, the DSPs, Muthusamy (Karur) and Balasubramanian (Kulithalai), and scores of other officials and personnel took part in the raids.

The police detained K. Velusamy (45) of Nachalur, an alleged bootlegger, under the Bootleggers Act. He was later lodged in the Central Prisons, Tiruchi.

Departmental action had been initiated against the Inspectors of Police, Mayanur and Vangal stations, for laxity in strictly enforcing the prohibition laws.

Mr. Mittal has also advised the police officers that slackness on their part in enforcing the prohibition laws would not be tolerated on any account. The SP has also called upon the public to pass on any information on prohibition offences in their area to him directly over phone number 225599. The informant’s identity would be kept a secret, he added.