Jharsuguda police have successfully dismantled a large-scale illegal country liquor manufacturing network operating in a village near the Odisha-Chhattisgarh border, leading to the arrest of eight individuals on Tuesday.
Following specific intelligence regarding organized illicit distillation activities near the Hirakud reservoir backwaters, a coordinated raid was executed at Khajuriapada in Baddhara village within the Rengali police limits. The operation involved three platoons of police force, led by two additional Superintendents of Police and inspectors from the Lakhanpur and Rengali police stations, with an executive magistrate also present.
Police teams conducted simultaneous house searches and combing operations in the challenging terrain adjacent to the Hirakud reservoir to prevent suspects from fleeing through forest and water routes. During the operation, law enforcement discovered and dismantled 17 illegal distillation units (chulhas) used for brewing country liquor from fermented mahua flowers.
Authorities seized approximately 870 liters of illicit distilled liquor, over 30 quintals of mahua pocha (fermented wash), and more than 20 quintals of raw mahua material. Additionally, one four-wheeler and four two-wheelers utilized in the illegal trade, along with various utensils, furnaces, and other manufacturing equipment, were confiscated.
The eight arrested individuals from Baddhara village have been charged under sections 274/275 of the BNS, in conjunction with section 52(a)(i) of the Odisha Excise Act, 2008. The arrested individuals include Kunja Behera (28), Prafulla Behera (24), Kartika Behera (66), Akshya Kumar Behera (23), Bharat Behera (47), Sanjay Behera (45), Rupram Behera (57), and Bhumisuta Behera (45), all residents of Baddhara. Several of these individuals have prior records related to Excise violations and other offenses.
Police indicated that preliminary investigations suggest the presence of a well-organized interstate network involved in the manufacturing and smuggling of illicit liquor. Further investigations are ongoing to identify the financiers, transporters, and other key players involved.
