LUDHIANA: In its campaign against manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, the state taxation department on Wednesday conducted another operation near Harike bird sanctuary at Mararan village. During the crackdown teams of department’s Ferozepur and Amritsar divisions seized 70,000 litres of illicit liquor estimated to be valued at Rs 45 lakh, which was later destroyed. The teams comprised more than 40 persons, including departmental officials and police personnel.Giving more information, deputy excise and taxation commissioner, Ferozepur, H P S Ghotra said that, “In a joint raid by excise teams of Ferozepur and Amritsar on Wednesday near Harike Pattan 70,000 litres lahan, 50 bags of jaggery and 18 iron drums were seized from the area. In order to avoid any kind of resistance from the gang members involved in this illegal activity our teams went well prepared and with support of police we were able to carry out this entire operation smoothly. The seized lahan was worth Rs 40-45 lakh and was destroyed by us and the equipment used in its preparation seized.”Last month, teams of the department had carried out a similar operation in Marar and Kirian villages in Harike area and destroyed illicit liquor worth Rs 50 lakh. During the operation taxation department teams were even attacked by the gang involved in this trade. However, timely intervention of police had saved the situation from getting ugly.

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