Suspected 'Lali Gur' (Molasses) worth Rs 50,000 seized in Naharkatia

Naharkatia: At least 74 tins of Suspected 'Lali Gur' (Molasses) were seized in Naharkatia on Friday in a joint operation of Excise department, Attached Circle Officer and Naharkatia Police.

As per reports, the suspected Lali Gur was recovered from the godown of one identified as Shankar Bhander.

Recovery of Lali Gur from a prominent businessman of Naharkatia (Rajkumar Kamalapuri) had created a considerable sensation among the local people, bringing back memories of the recent hooch tragedy in certain Tea estates in Golaghat district.

On being informed, the Excise team with Naharkatia Police in presence of Attached Circle Officer Wahidul Rahman raided various Grocery Shops and Godowns and recovered from the Godown of Rajkumar Kamalapuri (Shankar Bhander) 74 tins of suspected 'Lali Gur'(Molasses) worth around Rs.50,000. The Lali Gur molasses was seized by the magistrate.

The excise department lodge FIR in Naharkatia Police Station and a case has been registered under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code (Case No 142/19).

Lali Gur is generally used for preparing local illicit liquor and has great demand among local liquor manufacturers. The liquor produced by some unscrupulous elements later is usually supplied to nearby tea estates and other villages for consumption. For various causes, consumption of such illicit liquor usually claims a number of human lives.

Earlier, in the month of June 2019, based on information, a Police team lead by Namrup DSP Kula Pradip Bhattacharjee and Officer-in-charge Naharkatia PS Bhaskar Saikia in presence of Circle Officer Naharkatia Revenue Circle Bikram Chetry conducted a search at a Grocery shop and the Godown of a well known businessman of Naharkatia namely Prasanna Bharatia and recovered around 2000 tins of suspected Lali Gur (Molasses) from the spot.

The Godown was sealed by the Magistrate. Police later informed the concerned department of the (Food & Safety) for further investigation into the matter.

Also Read: 2000 tins containing Lali Gur (Molasses) recovered in Naharkatia, Godown Sealed