A staggering 1,274 persons have been arrested and a record 2,209 cases made out by the Excise department during the statewide crackdown against illicit country liquor and fermented brew manufacturers across the state in the last one week following the hooch tragedy at Chikita in Ganjam district August 19.
A senior Excise official told Orissa POST Monday that a total of 1,15,822 liters of illicit country liquor and 1.02,237 kg fermented brew have been seized during the raids at manufacturing dens by various Excise units in the state. The retail price of the seized contraband has been estimated to be of over Rs 20 crore. The officials also seized 132 vehicles used in the transportation of the illicit liquor consignments, leading to the arrest of 70 vehicle owners.
