Hooch brewers outsmart Renuka

Metalg

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posted on 13 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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BELGAUM: A few months after he got a first hand experience of the 'power' of hooch brewers, Excise Minister Renukacharya has..

BELGAUM: A few months after he got a first hand experience of the 'power' of hooch brewers, Excise Minister Renukacharya has come to know about their 'intelligence' as well.
Renukacharya conducted 'surprise' raids on hooch preparation dens in the district. But the brewers had smelt better. They took to their heels well before the minister's team arrived.While officials admitted to leakage of information before the operation, Renukacharya made the admission after the exercise. The excise minister and team was to conduct raids at Hogaratti village of Bailhongal taluk on Monday, for which 25 vehicles and hundred personnel of excise and police departments were deputed. They travelled more than 30 km and walked another 3 km in jungles. They came across five hooch preparation units which had already been vacated by the brewers along with equipment. All they could find was 450 litres of molasses.

An excise official told Express that Hogaratti raid was not an easy job. The hooch brewers of the area get violent and can prove very dangerous because of their guerilla tactics.

Renukacharya told reporters that the raids were his sincere efforts to make the state free from hooch and not aimed at publicity.