Chandigarh: As the death toll in the hooch tragedy rose to 86, Punjab Police on Saturday arrested 17 more people in a massive crackdown spanning more than 100 raids. According to Punjab police sources, the total number of arrests in the case has gone up to 25.
"A mafia mastermind, a woman kingpin, a transport owner, a wanted criminal and owners/managers of various dhabas from where the illicit liquor was being supplied are among the arrested," disclosed DGP Dinkar Gupta.
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The raiding parties have also seized large quantities of Lahan from various villages and dhabas in the region around Shambhu border, Rajpura and Patiala, he said, adding that the raids had exposed a massive racket in illicit liquor, spread across several districts. The dhabas, identified as Zilmil Dhaba, Green Dhaba, Chhinda Dhaba on Shambhu, and Banur and Rajpura in Patiala, have been sealed.
As much as 750 litres of Lahan had been seized from Baghaura village from where two persons, Satnam and Rashem, had been arrested while another, identified as Lakhwinder, had been identified as a culprit.
"Kingpin Darshan Rani alias Faujan was arrested by Batala Police, while another key accused Beeri, of village Deo, PS Sadar Tarn Taran, has also been arrested for supplying the spurious alcohol. Prem Singh, the owner of Azad Transport, and Bhinda were arrested by Rajpura police in raids conducted today," Gupta said.
"At Green Dhaba, Rajpura Chandigarh Road police station in Zirakpur, approximately 200 litres of Diesel like liquid were also seized. The Dhaba has been sealed and its owner Gurjant Singh has been arrested. One Narinder Singh, the owner of Multani Dhaba, has also been arrested in the case," said the DGP.
"Another 150 litres of illicit liquor were recovered from one Parminder Singh and 200 litres from Baljit Singh. Both these men have also been arrested. One of the key arrested who was bringing spurious liquor from Tarn Taran to Amritsar Rural area has been identified as Govinderbir Singh. He was the mastermind of the mafia in Amritsar rural district," the DGP added.
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