Liquor salesmen protest in Dhanbad over excise raid

A SALESMAN AT MEMCO MORE-BASED SHOP ALLEGED THAT A SUB-INSPECTOR OF THE EXCISE DEPARTMENT SLAPPED A STAFF MEMBER WITHOUT ANY PROVOCATION DURING THURSDAY NIGHT'S RAID

- Praduman Choubey

DHANBAD: Tension gripped Dhanbad on Friday as a large group of liquor shop salesmen staged a protest at the office of the excise commissioner, alleging high-handedness by officials during a raid conducted a day earlier.

Anil Singh, a salesman at a Memco More-based government liquor shop, led the demonstration. He alleged that a sub-inspector of the excise department slapped a staff member without any provocation during Thursday night's operation. Protesters also accused the raiding team of seizing liquor and later declaring it illicit without conducting any proper forensic tests.

Talking to the media, Anil Singh further said, "How can any material be declared illicit or fake merely based on its confiscation during the raid without proper testing procedures?"

The protesters asserted that no official has the right to physically assault shop staff or label any stock as spurious unless it is scientifically proven through lab testing. They demanded accountability and action against the officials.