Shimla News
Major Crackdown on Illegal Liquor in Himachal: Over 1,000 Litres Seized and Thousands of Litres of Lahan Destroyed
Excise Department’s Special Campaign Leads to Seizures and Destruction of Illegal Alcohol and Lahan Across the State
Shimla, December 16: The Excise Department of Himachal Pradesh has launched a vigorous campaign to tackle illegal liquor manufacturing and distribution, recovering a significant amount of contraband. Excise Commissioner Dr. Yunus announced on Monday that under a special campaign throughout December, department teams have seized 1,082 bulk litres of illegal liquor and destroyed 37,857 litres of lahan (a raw material used for brewing illicit liquor).
The crackdown has been conducted across various districts, based on routine inspections and secret information. On December 13, a raid led by the Assistant Commissioner of Excise in Nurpur resulted in the destruction of 16,000 litres of lahan in Basantpur and surrounding areas. Just two days later, on December 15, a further 15,000 litres of lahan was destroyed in the Indora sub-division, hidden in drums and pits.
Further raids were conducted by the Bilaspur district team on December 12, targeting areas like Dabat, Majri, and Lehri. In these locations, two illicit kilns were dismantled, and 2,450 litres of lahan were seized. The same day, a raid in Chamba’s Kolka forest led to the destruction of another 2,000 litres of lahan.
The crackdown also included significant recoveries of illegal liquor. Solan district reported the seizure of 323 bulk litres, Mandi saw 217 litres recovered, and Una recorded 211 litres in December alone. Collectively, over 1,000 litres of illegal alcohol were seized in the ongoing efforts across the state.
Dr. Yunus assured the public that such operations would continue, with stricter actions taken against those involved in illegal alcohol trade, undermining government revenues. He urged the citizens of Himachal to actively report any illegal liquor-related activities to the department’s dedicated hotline at 0177-2620426 or via email at controlroomhq@gmail.com. These efforts are part of the Excise Department’s ongoing commitment to curbing the illicit liquor trade and ensuring the health and safety of residents.
