Liquor worth lakhs seized in Siliguri amid poll ban, one arrested for black marketing

Siliguri, 26th April: In a crackdown amid the liquor sale ban imposed for the second phase of Assembly polls, police seized a huge quantity of liquor from a house in Siliguri and arrested one person for alleged black marketing.

It is to be noted that, liquor sales have been prohibited across the state from April 26 to April 29 as per Election Commission directives. Taking advantage of the ban, illegal stockpiling and black marketing activities had reportedly begun in parts of Siliguri.

Acting on a tip-off, plainclothes police from Pradhan Nagar police station conducted a raid at a house in Dharmanagar area of Ward No. 01. During the operation, a large quantity of liquor worth around ₹3 lakh was recovered. The accused, identified as Ayush Kahar, a resident of Dharmanagar, was arrested from the spot.

Police sources said the liquor was allegedly stored to be sold at higher prices during the prohibition period. The accused is set to be produced before the Siliguri court, and further investigation into the matter is underway.