Vigil Tightened At Check Posts
Drive against offenders involved in prohibition-related offences has been stepped up and vigil tightened in districts that share borders with neighbouring states, said Additional Director-General of Police, K.R. Shyamsundar here on Thursday. Mr. Shyamsundar told reporters after a review meeting with the Prohibition Enforcement Wing (PEW) officials, that the ill-fated victims living along the Tamil Nadu border in Krishnagiri recently had consumed arrack from villages in Karnataka. Of the 21 cases registered by the police, 20 of them pertained to the scene of occurrence i.e., the village in Karnataka.
As far as Coimbatore region was concerned, Mr. Shyamsundar said that 296 cases were registered in 2007. During the year till May 28, 42 cases had been registered. In the last seven days i.e., after the Krishnagiri hooch tragedy, 29 cases had been registered. He said the police had identified 12 persons for detaining them under the Goondas Act for prohibition-related offences. Anybody found in possession of arrack would be detained under the Goondas Act, he cautioned. To curb smuggling of arrack, rectified spirit and hooch across the borders, the PEW police personnel are stepping up manpower at the inter-State check posts.
To ensure enhanced cooperation among the enforcement departments across the borders, the West Zone police have formed high level committees comprising officers from Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring States. Mr. Shyamsundar said officers in districts had been asked to join hands with the revenue administration in ensuring rehabilitation assistance for the illicit distillers who were willing to give up the trade.
