Punjab’s Anti-Spurious Liquor Campaign Triumphs: Patiala Police and Excise Department Seize 600 Litres of Methanol
Chandigarh/Tepla (Shambhu, Rajpura, Patiala), May 13
In a major victory for Punjab’s crackdown on illicit liquor, a joint operation by Patiala District Police and the Excise Department seized 600 litres of methanol, a key ingredient in spurious liquor production, on Tuesday. The consignment, suspected to be linked to the recent Majitha spurious liquor tragedy in Amritsar, was intercepted near Tepla, delivering a significant blow to the illegal liquor network.
At a press conference near the Tepla police post on Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Shambhu-Banur road, SSP Patiala Varun Sharma credited the operation to the Punjab Government’s aggressive campaign against drugs and illicit liquor, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and directed by DGP Gaurav Yadav. Following intelligence from DIG Border Range about a methanol shipment from Transport Nagar, Delhi, Patiala Police and the Excise Department acted swiftly, intercepting truck PB 10 H 1577. The vehicle concealed three drums of 600 litres of methanol among other goods.
The truck driver was arrested, and investigations are ongoing to trace the consignment’s origins and intended recipients. SSP Sharma noted that the methanol was likely destined for spurious liquor production, warning that its distribution could have caused hundreds of deaths, similar to the Majitha tragedy.
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The operation, supervised by SP(D) Gurbans Singh Bains, DSP Harmanjit Singh Cheema, and Assistant Commissioner Excise Rajesh Aerry, involved Excise ETO Rupinderjit Singh, SHO Shambhu Inspector Harpreet Singh, Excise Inspectors Harjinder Singh, Gopal Sharma, Rajnish Kumar, and Tepla Chowki In-charge Jajwinder Singh, alongside Patiala Police and Excise personnel.
SSP Sharma emphasized that this seizure underscores Punjab Police and the Excise Department’s commitment to curbing the production and distribution of toxic liquor, safeguarding public health and safety.
