Bareilly: Following the directions of director general of police (DGP) Sulkhan Singh in the wake of Azamgarh hooch tragedy that claimed 22 lives early this month, more than 1.5 lakh litres of illicit liquor was seized during a week-long crackdown across Uttar Pradesh.In Bareilly, carrying out the drive, police recently seized a consignment of Himachal-made liquor worth around Rs 20 lakh from a truck, which was allegedly being transported to Bihar.As many as 455 makeshift distilleries were destroyed and more than 3,000 cases were registered against the offenders at different police stations during the drive across the state, said police.A total of 49,552 litres of liquor, which was being smuggled from neighbouring states, seized and more than 400 people were arrested and 419 cases registered in this connection.In most of the areas, police and excise department officials jointly carried out operations against liquor smuggling and raided illicit liquor manufactures.Shahjahanpur district excise officer Jitendra Kumar told TOI, “In this belt many people are involved in manufacturing of illicit liquor. We have registered 135 cases so far and have seized 2,248 litres of illicit liquor and 31,000 kg of ‘lehan’ (fermented liquor). Sixteen accused have been sent to jail, while others were released on bail.”Rahul Srivastava, PRO at the DGP office, told TOI, “The drive against illicit liquor was carried out in the aftermath of the Azamgarh hooch tragedy that claimed 22 lives earlier this month. Such drives will be conducted periodically throughout year.”

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