Karwar: From the National Highway to remote roads in forests, from two-wheelers to trains, excise department officials are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that illegal liquor does not flow into Yellapur constituency which goes to bypolls on December 5.
On Tuesday alone, the officials conducted raids in about eight places and seized illegal liquor from four places. Most of these were Goa brewed liquor and beer. During a raid conducted with the railway police, the officials seized six litres of liquor from the Madgaon-Mangaluru passenger train.
Uttara Kannada district shares a border with Goa and flow of liquor through various routes, especially within the forest is one of the concerns of officials. In the last 15 days the officials have conducted about 240 raids in various parts of Uttara Kannada district arresting about 58 persons and seizing liquor especially that coming from Goa.
"We are ensuring that liquor does not enter the district. Our officials are working day and night searching vehicles and conducting raids in suspicious places. Uttara Kannada is a district with thick forest cover. Despite this challenge, our officials are on the rounds not only on the main roads but even on remote roads in the forests checking vehicles and seizing liquor," Excise DC Y.R. Mohan told Deccan Chronicle.
Information sharing meetings have been held with the excise department officials of Goa and also of neighbouring districts in Karnataka. " Though only one constituency is going to bypolls this time, we are taking strict measures against illegal flow of liquor in the entire district," Uttara Kannada district Deputy Commissioner Dr Harish Kumar said.
