Country liquor dens thrive in Chharanagar; four held

Four people were arrested in Chharanagar on Sunday in connection with illegal brewing of country liquor. Police have already booked nearly two dozen people in such crackdowns in the last three days.

The accused were identified as Madhuben, Shakilaben, Sangeeta and Deveji Thakore, all residents of Kubernagar.

On Saturday, police destroyed 5,000 litres of fermented musk and 400 litres of country liquor. According to a local resident the whole area now stinks of the hooch that was destroyed by police and many people have been complaining of nausea. The stench spread to the Sindhi settlements who too complained about the smell."

Chharanagar is notorious for bootlegging and country liquor dens. The police have destroyed nearly a dozen households which produce the illegal brew. According to police there are at least a dozen women who escaped following the raid. These women operate the trade like a small scale industry. According to a senior police officer, "Mostly women are involved in making country liquor in this area. These women prepare a concoction from which country liquor is distilled, known as fermented musk. The illicit trade has been going on for many decades," he said.
However, the illegal activity continues to thrive in Chharanagar despite various measures to stop the menace.