Bootleggers keep UP cops on their toes ahead of Assembly polls

Despite significant slash in liquor prices in Uttar Pradesh (UP) in 2016, a complete ban could not be brought on alcohol smuggling from states like Haryana or UP, where the prices are still lower. Excise department is keeping a close eye on influx of smuggled alcohol in UP ahead of assembly elections as the election commission has already warned that politicians may stock and distribute it to woo voters.

Excise department claims that smuggling of liquor went down after excise rate were cut down in UP and were rationalised, but still there is a margin of Rs150-300 on 750ml bottles.

"Smugglers from Haryana and Delhi were not risking it due to lower margin but as the consumption tends increase during poll, illegal traders are trying to hide the illegal consignment with other goods to bring it in UP," senior officer of excise department said.

ACUTE CASH CRUNCH AMONG POLITICIANS

Even the police claim that after demonetisation there is an acute cash crunch among the politicians. A large sum of "unaccounted" money and donations - all in cash - was pumped in during the political rallies and campaigning. However, now everyone has limited cash.

"With no money to distribute alcohol may play a major role to influence the voters," a DIG-rank officer told Mail Today.

The lengthy and porous border that western UP shares with Haryana has proved to be a hotbed of liquor smuggling. Cops claim that despite lower profit margin as difference in alcohol prices are lesser, smugglers trying to find innovative ideas like creating a secret compartment in vehicle or packing the bottles in shoe box. Apart from roads, the dry Yamuna riverbed, farmland and forests provide ample scope and cover to the peddlers to transport their bounties undetected.

UP excise department officials are on their toes in all the six districts of the state bordering Haryana, with most cases of illicit liquor being smuggled into UP are reported from along the Haryana border.

OVER 16,000 LITRES SEIZED AFTER ENFORCEMENT OF MODEL CODE OF CONDUCT

After model code of conduct was enforced, over 16,000 litres of illicit liquor has been seized already. Of the six districts of UP, bordering Haryana, the highest quantity of liquor has been seized from Gautam Budh Nagar (5,000 litres), followed by Saharanpur (3,368 litres), Baghpat (2,500 litres), Shamli (2,099 litres), Mathura (1,680 litres) and Aligarh (678 litres).

There are multiple entry points from Haryana to UP. Gautam Budh Nagar alone has nearly 12 entry points and smuggling of liquor thus becomes easy.

"To ensure that no smuggling of liquor takes place, six teams from the excise department are keeping a check in suspected areas of the district. With 60 officials working round the clock, 5,000 litres of illicit liquor has been seized so far. Smuggling of illegal liquor will increase once the candidates for all the political parties are announced," said Kuldeep Yadav, district excise officer and assistant excise commissioner, Gautam Budh Nagar.

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