Sundaragada: Five persons were arrested on Monday for allegedly attacking an Excise department team during a raid against illegal liquor trade in Sundargarh district.
Police said a team of Excise officials along with staff of Dharuadihi police station had gone to Alangpani village following inputs about illicit distillation and sale of Mahua liquor. During a search in the forest adjoining the village, the team destroyed 1,200 kg of fermented wash and seized 400 litres of Mahua liquor.While returning, the team was allegedly waylaid by a group of villagers who attacked them with stones, catapults and lathis.
A Bolero vehicle used by the team was damaged and Sub-Inspector Phula Sahu of Sundargarh Excise Station sustained head injuries.Based on a complaint lodged by Sahu, a case was registered at Dharuadihi police station.
Acting on the directions of the Superintendent of Police, Sundargarh, a joint raid was conducted this morning under the leadership of SDPO, Sadar, with personnel from Bhasma and Dharuadihi police stations and the Armed Police Reserve.
.Five accused were apprehended and four motorcycles used in the attack were seized. They were produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody. The investigation is being conducted by SI Barun Kumar Naik.
