Cuttack: Members of the district Excise department team were attacked by the liquor mafia during a raid at Khuntuni Dakua jungle of Athagarh in the Cuttack district on Friday morning. Four officials of the Excise team were injured during the attack.
According to reports, acting on a tip-off, the Athagarh Excise department along with Cuttack Mobile Squad and Fine Squad conducted raids at a unit in the Khuntuni area.
As the raiding team left their vehicle on the road and walked into the forest, the liquor mafia present there hurled abuses at them and attacked the Excise officials with sharp weapons including swords, sticks, and knives. Four members of the Excise team were injured in the attack. The liquor mafia also vandalised the vehicles of the Excise department.
On being informed, a team from the Khuntuni police station and the Excise department reached the spot and launched an investigation.
Talking to the media, Cuttack District Excise Superintendent Debasis Patel said, “We were not prepared for such a situation as it never happened before. However, the liquor mafia has thrown a challenge to us and now will be more careful and stricter. I assure you that we will deal with them in a stern way.”
