12 people, including five women, were arrested today by Excise Department officials for allegedly being involved in illicit distillation of liquor here.
"Sleuths of Excise Department conducted series of raids in Jammu province to check the menace of illicit distillation of liquor and its smuggling in other states," a spokesman said.
He said the raids were conducted in Jammu, Rajouri, Kathua, Udhampur and Kishtwar districts of Jammu region.
"Twelve persons were arrested in connection with illicit distillation of liquor have been booked under various provisions of J&K Excise Act, 1958," the spokesman said.
He said five persons-- Rattan Lal, Ragu Pal, Devinder Singh, Robin Kumar and Sadaqat Hussain--were arrested from Rajouri district.
As many as 870 kg of raw material, 120 liters of illicit liquor and three working stills were destroyed on spot by the Excise sleuths.
Similarly, two persons identified as Rupa and Rita Devi were arrested from Udhampur district and 20 kg of raw material and two liters of illicit liquor were destroyed on spot, the spokesperson said.
In Kishtwar district, two persons identified as Rajinder Kumar and Des Raj were arrested and 30 kg of raw material and two liters of illicit liquor were destroyed, he said.
The spokesperson further said the eradication and enforcement wing of excise department conducted raids in Jammu and arrested Tosh devi, Geeta Devi and Manjeet Kour.
"220 kg of raw material and five liters of illicit liquor was also destroyed from the spot," he said
He said that in Kathua district more than 1500 kilogram of raw material and 250 liters of illicit liquor were destroyed.
