KOZHIKODE: The excise department on Thursday launched a special drive to check the flow of spurious liquor to the state during the Onam season. The drug pedlars, who smuggle liquor, will be closely watched. According to excise deputy commissioner P.K. Suresh, women officials will join the vehicle checkings as women are also being used to smuggle in liquor. A district-level control room with phone number 0495- 2372927 has been opened with a preventive officer in charge of the room, said Mr Suresh.
The excise intelligence and investigation bureau will be on special alert and two preventive officers/ special excise officers each have been deployed in all the range offices. The messages from the bureau have to be taken to the offices concerned through special messengers. The department will also work closely with the people’s committees in district, Assembly constituency, taluk and panchayat level. Information from the government employees, panchayats and other non-governmental organisations will be collected.
Combined raids with the support of forest, police and revenue departments are also planned. A list of the sensitive areas has been prepared. Two strike forces have been formed under the excise inspector in the district for service round-the clock. Apart from road patrolling, coast patrolling has been made mandatory in coordination with marine police. The pocket roads connecting Mahe, Palloor and Kunhippally are other notorious spots to be targeted. The licensed shops would also be checked on a routine basis.
