Through drone surveys along the banks of the Vishwamitri river, the Vadodara Detection of Crime Branch and Prevention of Crime Branch has busted 10 illicit country liquor production units.
Five teams conducted the drone survey in Bhaliyapura, Bil, Talsat-Vadsar, Ranoli-Koyali and Chhani areas. Once the units were spotted using drones, the teams raided the location and confiscated 113 litres of country liquor and 7,690 litres of rectified spirit used in manufacturing the country liquor.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Crime, Jaydeepsinh Jadeja, told this newspaper, “We have booked over 10 cases after the aerial survey. The reason behind undertaking the drone survey was that several of such units are located in the inaccessible terrain along the banks of the Vishwamitri river. We cannot go patrolling these areas even with two-wheelers. Often, policemen spot smoke coming out of the ravines of the river but we cannot ascertain the origin. So, we decided to use drones and it was successful.”
Jadeja added that no arrests have been made so far as the owners of the manufacturing units have to be tracked down. “Most of the units are handed over to widowed, impoverished women from villages, who are appointed to sit and watch over the boiling spirit. We are tracking down the owners of the units and arrests will be made soon,” he said.