1,500 bottles of Nepalese liquor seized, 3 arrested

MOTIHARI: Police on Monday seized 1,500 bottles of Nepalese liquor worth Rs 2.25 lakh from a three-wheeler and arrested three persons near Mahangua village under Kundawa-Chainpur police station in East Champaran district.
The three arrested persons were sent to jail after interrogation. Sources said the trio were members of a gang active in trans-border liquor smuggling in the region.They have been identified as Ravi Mandal, Harendra Kumar and Vinod Das, all residents of Motihari.
Bambam Chaudhary, DSP of Sikrahna sub-division, said the three-wheeler had been seized and an FIR registered in connection with the seizure.
Sources said Nepal-made liquor is being smuggled into the district on a large scale and the smugglers use three-wheelers, motorcycles and other vehicles to carry the consignments. Illegal liquor trade is rampant in rural markets at Raxaul, Velawa, Pantoka, Adapur, Chhoradano, Ghorasahan, Bankatawa and Kundawa, the sources added.
Meanwhile, despite rise in liquor smuggling, the Raxaul excise check post has been running without an officer-in-charge since September 30. Only three excise constables are currently deployed at the check post.