Liquor manufacturing unit busted in Valmiki Tiger Reserve

Bettiah: A mini-illicit liquor manufacturing unit deep inside the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) was unearthed and 2,200 litres of country-made liquor seized in West Champaran district on Tuesday.Acting on a tip-off, officials carried out a raid in Madanpur forest range, where they recovered 11 drums filled with locally brewed liquor. Each drum had a capacity of 200 litres, taking the total seizure to 2,200 litres. The seized liquor was destroyed on the spot, officials said.Madanpur range officer Naseem Ansari said the environment, forest and climate change department had received information about illegal brewing activities inside the forest. “We shared the input with the excise department, following which a joint team was constituted,” he said.The operation was led by prohibition, excise and registration department (excise) ASI Ankit Kumar, with support from forest personnel under the leadership of forest guard Sujit Paswan.Officials said those involved in the illegal business managed to flee during the raid. “Efforts are on to identify the accused and initiate further action,” Ansari added.