KMP route on police radar for illicit liquor
GURUGRAM: Gurugram has emerged as one of the top three districts in Haryana where the maximum quantity of illicit liquor was seized since the model code of conduct came into force for the Lok Sabha elections. The restrictions came into effect on March 16. The Kundli-Manesar-Palwal (KMP) route connects all three districts and to keep a close watch and prevent smuggling of liquor ahead of polls, special surveillance teams have been formed and deployed on the route, officials aware of the matter said.
Gurugram goes to polls on May 25 in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections that began on April 19.
Forty-seven checkpoints have been set up in Gurugram and special deployment has been done on the KMP route since it is the main route to smuggle liquor in the area. Liquor has also been seized from different areas of the city, including city borders with Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi, police said.
Officials said teams of police and the CID have been deployed on the KMP route and 15 personnel in plainclothes have also been assigned to check the movement of heavy vehicles possibly smuggling liquor.
Police data revealed that the top three districts with the highest recovery of illicit liquor in Haryana are Sonipat, Gurugram, and Faridabad. Gurugram ranked the second, where 15,000 litres of illicit liquor was seized, said officials. They said 448 people have been arrested and 405 cases have been registered since the model code of conduct was announced.
According to the data, more than 20,000 litres of illicit liquor was seized from Sonipat, followed by 15,000 litres from Gurugram and 10,500 litres from Faridabad. Police said the liquor was being smuggled from different districts and the main route for trucks was through the KMP expressway.
Deputy commissioner (DC) Nishant Kumar Yadav on Tuesday said that separate teams of police and excise department officials are carrying out raids and have increased vigilance on the daily stock of liquor available in the market to plug any attempt at smuggling. “Besides, vehicles are being intensively checked at entry and exit points of the districts to curb the smuggling of liquor,” he said.
“Our teams are keeping watch on all the roads connecting the two districts through the KMP route to ensure that no smuggling of liquor can take place,” Yadav said.