Uttar Pradesh: Drones used to bust illicit liquor distillers in Pilibhit Tiger Reserve

PILIBHIT: Steps are being taken by authorities after a dozen units of illicit liquor distillation were allegedly found in Barahi forest range of Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR). It has been brought to the notice of the principal chief conservator of UP, Mamata Sanjiv Dube, by a local wildlife enthusiast, Bilal Khan, who sent her a letter with "evidence".
Taking cognizance, the divisional forest officer of PTR, Naveen Khandelwal, started an extensive search and seizure drive in the forest on Saturday in joint coordination with the police and excise department. Drone camera was used in the operation.
Khan told TOI, “Information about the illegal distillation units, their precise locations, concerned photographs and the names of their owners were recently disclosed to me by an illegal distiller who was compelled to wind up his unlawful activities as a forest beat in-charge increased the monthly bribe amount. Unable to afford, he became restive. I have given all the details in my letter of complaint.”
Notably, joint teams of state excise department and district police have busted many distillation units of illicit liquor functional in PTR in the recent past. Recovery of processed liquor and 'lahan' (fermented liquid used in distilling the illicit liquor) was made during the raids and the accused were sent to jail.
Divisional forest officer of PTR, Naveen Khandelwal, said, “We are conducting raids in forest regions by constituting joint teams of forest, police and the excise department. Even if the departmental personnel are found involved in collusion with the illegal distillers, they would be brought under the ambit of stringent legal action.” SP, Dinesh Kumar Prabhu, said, “The operation will continue until we stamp out this illegal practice from the area.”