Srinagar, Jan 29: As police has failed to act against the bootleggers, locals on Sunday busted a gang of liquor smugglers and sellers in Central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
 The residents said that they were on way to offer prayers when they saw group of people entering into a house near a Masjid. “We saw suspicious movement in the house and on closer look spotted a Maruti car parked outside it. One of the guys alighted from the car and entered the house carrying something under his pheran (cloak). We intercepted him and recovered liquor bottles from him,” the residents told Greater Kashmir.
 “We later searched the house and found a room full of liquor. We destroyed several bottles on the spot and then the angry youth caught hold of sacks full of liquor. This time we have exposed the illicit liquor trade but it is ironical that police is acting as mute spectator the serious issue,” they said.
 The Station House Officer Budgam Muhammad Rafi Shah said that the investigation into the case was going on . “We have launched a manhunt to nab the accused. We have also seized some bottles and tins of liquor and a car in the premises from accused’s house. A case under FIR number 29/ 2012/US 48 Excise Act has been registered against the accused,” the SHO said.
 Pertinently, the United Body of Islamic Clerics has already launched a signature campaign for complete ban on liquor sale in Kashmir Valley, after the statement of Union Minister Farooq Abdullah favouring opening of liquor shops to “draw high end tourists”, triggered a controversy.
 “We can’t sit silent when our surroundings are being polluted with such illicit trade. When you have leaders approving the liquor, what can you expect from the police and other agencies,” said a local.
 According to locals, the township has witnessed a surge in the drug abuse, liquor and charas, which according to them have eaten up lives of many youth in the town.
 “Nobody seems to be bothered about it. We have seen many of your becoming the victims of this growing menace drugs charas, liquor,” said an activist.
 Meanwhile police also claimed to have busted another gang of thefts from Nasrullaah Poraa area of Budgam, recovering car type recorders, mobile phones and other gadgets from them.
 “We have arrested two accused of Nasrullah Pora for being active in theft activities in the area. The investigation is on and we will soon arrest their other partners,” said the SHO.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST