Panchkula Police seize Rs 13.5 lakh illegal liquor from truck headed for Assam and Bengal

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Liquor worth Rs 13.5 lakh was allegedly being smuggled from Chandigarh to West Bengal and Assam under the cover of sports goods.

 Panchkula, August 28

Panchkula Police have busted an alleged illegal liquor smuggling operation and seized 268 crates of Chandigarh-marked liquor, estimated to be worth around Rs 13.5 lakh, from a truck reportedly transporting sports goods to West Bengal and Assam.

The seizure was made by the Anti-Narcotic Cell, Panchkula, following a tip-off received on the night of August 26 at around 11:30 pm. Police said the truck was travelling from Chandigarh through Majri Chowk towards the highway.

Acting on the information, a police team set up a checkpoint near the cut leading towards the Commando Complex after crossing the Ghaggar. The suspected truck was stopped and the driver identified himself as Shahzad Alam, a resident of Amroha, Uttar Pradesh.

According to DCP Crime and Traffic IPS Amarinder Singh, the driver was asked to move the truck to the side of the highway, while a policeman was seated beside him to monitor the vehicle. Police alleged that the driver suddenly accelerated towards the road behind the gurdwara.

When the policeman asked him to stop, the driver allegedly pushed him and jumped from the speeding truck. The vehicle then went out of control and headed towards a building. The policeman took control of the steering and managed to bring the truck safely to the side, averting a possible accident.

Police subsequently caught Shahzad Alam. He sustained a head injury after jumping from the moving vehicle and was initially taken to the government hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula. He was later shifted to the government hospital in Sector 32, Chandigarh, where he is undergoing treatment.

A subsequent search of the truck led to the recovery of 268 crates of liquor, containing around 2,500 litres, police said. The liquor had allegedly been concealed beneath sports goods, covering the load from front to back.

Preliminary investigation indicated that sports goods had first been loaded in Jalandhar, Punjab, while the liquor was allegedly loaded later in Chandigarh. The consignment was reportedly intended for Siliguri in West Bengal and Barpeta in Assam.

A case has been registered at Chandimandir police station under Sections 281, 221, 132 and 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Excise Act. Sub-Inspector Nirmal Singh is investigating the case.

Panchkula Police Commissioner IPS Pankaj Nain said the team was working to identify the entire smuggling network and determine the source of the liquor in Chandigarh and those involved in transporting it to West Bengal and Assam.

He said illegal liquor, narcotics and other unlawful activities would not be tolerated in the district and assured strict action against those found involved in the alleged smuggling network.