JORHAT, Aug 2 - To prevent various kinds of diseases caused by the consumption of hooch in the tea garden areas of the district Golaghat district administration has intensified operation against the local vendors and manufacturers of illicit liquor across the district recently.
Since July 1 this year more than 23 persons were arrested for their involvement in the trade of country liquor in the district. As the Deputy Commissioner Anwarul Haque requested the citizens to inform the Excise officials about the illegal business of liquor even in the remotest corners of the district, several sensitive citizens of many tea gardens shared information about the sale and consumption of the alcoholic substances in some areas which literally helped the officials concerned to bust the illicit trade.
During the operation Excise department�s officials of the district have seized over 669 litres of liquor and registered 77 cases against various accused who were allegedly involved in the illegal trade.
As the country liquor is known to be easily available in the tea garden areas several garden workers have the habit of consuming it on a regular basis which caused fatal diseases mainly during the peak season of production in the gardens. As the consumption of hooch caused death to several people in many tea garden areas in the State the prohibition of trade has been considered as the preventive option to stop the tragedy in future. �
Seeking cooperation from the locals of various tea gardens the Deputy Commissioner Haque invited some citizens for direct interaction two weeks ago and requested them to sensitize the youths to stand against the illicit liquor trade in the gardens. �
As he had�assured of keeping the names and addresses of the informers secret several locals from various tea gardens shared their information with the Excise officials which helped the government officials to conduct seizure and arrest of the accused people.
