Police seize huge cache of liquor in poll-bound Punjab

Ludhiana/Bhatinda/Amritsar, Jan 14 (ANI): Police seized huge cache of liquor and arrested people involved in such nefarious activities on Saturday from various districts of Punjab, ahead of the assembly polls, scheduled to take place at the end of the month.

The police arrested two people with 60 cartons of illicit liquor in Ludhiana.

The accused had discovered a new route to transport large quantities of illicit liquor into the state, when the police surrounded their vehicle and arrested them.

After the Election Commission issued strict guidelines for campaigning during the elections, police officials have been keeping a strict vigil to prevent such illegal activities.

"60 cartons of liquor were seized. Two people have been arrested in the case. They were carrying the liquor from Bengal and we received information before hand and they were caught. We also arrested six people, who were indulging in gambling of around Rs.32, 000," said Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Swapan Sharma.

In a similar incident, police seized 3,360 bottles of liquor in a joint operation in Bhatinda and arrested two culprits involved in the case.

The authorities received timely information and nabbed the perpetrators.

"We seized around 3,360 bottles of liquor. They were smuggled from Bhatinda and were going to Jajjal. We received secret information that they would be close to a bus stand where we arrested two people," said Gurjit Singh Romana, an official.

The Police in Amritsar also seized bottles of illicit liquor and have registered a case against the arrested persons.

"We seized 294 cartons of the 8 pm brand. A case has been registered under the relevant section and we will carry out a fair and transparent investigation. This is because of the strict guidelines issued by the Election Commission," said Commissioner of Police, Amritsar, R K Mittal.

Punjab is one of five states due to hold elections this year. As per the schedule planned by Election Commission, polls in Uttar Pradesh will be conducted in seven phases starting from February 4, while voting in Goa, Uttarakhand, Manipur and Punjab will take place between January 28 and March 3.

The results of the polls would be declared on March 6. (ANI)