Police seize 1,075 bottles of IMFL in Bhojpur, 2 smugglers held

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Bhojpur police seized 1,075 bottles of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) from Kewatiya Ghat under Krishnagarh police station in the wee hour on February 9, 2018, when the smugglers were carrying the liquor consignment on a boat in river Ganga. Police also arrested two liquor smugglers while three others manage to escape. Police also seized a boat, a motorcycle and a mobile.

The arrested liquor smugglers were identified as Ritesh Kumar Pandit, son of Bihari Pandit of village Nargada under Krishnagarha police station and the sailor Tarachand Bind, son of Badari Bind of village Sohara. Three liquor smugglers who escaped were identified as Vikas Chaudhary and Dev Ratan Yadav of village Balua and Rakesh alias Lala Singh of village Nargada.

SHO, Krishnagarh police station, B K Brajesh, said that while returning after arresting a rape accused at Padmania village, police intercepted Ritesh Kumar Pandit on suspicion and interrogated him. In the meantime, someone asked Ritesh Kumar Pandit on mobile to reach Kevatia Ganga ghat to receive the liquor consignment. When interrogated, Ritesh Kumar Pandit revealed the fact. Police immediately rushed to Kevatia Ganga ghat where some persons had collected the IMFL in nine gunny bags.

The SHO said that the smugglers were smuggling IMFL from UP but the boat capsized near Kevatia Ganga ghat and 65 cartons of IMFL drowned. But some persons fished out 1,075 bottles of IMFL from the river and put them in 9 gunny bags.