Singareni Colony Hut: A hub of liquor mafia
Since July 2016, around 63 FIRs have been registered against bootleggers. These include one case in 2016, four in 2017, ten in 2018, 19 in 2019, 15 in 2020, and 14 this year so far.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 17 Sep 2021 12:51 PM GMT
Hyderabad: On June 26, Saidabad police arrested Eslavath Hemla when he tried to flee after he was asked to stop. Hailing from Singareni Colony Hut, a slum under Saidabad Police Station, he was carrying a gunny bag in a suspicious manner. This is the same area where on September 9, a six-year-old tribal girl was raped and murdered,
After seeing the police, he tried to escape. However, after a brief chase, he was caught. During a search, police recovered 56 liquor bottles. Police said he had purchased the liquor bottles from a shop to sell them to customers at higher prices after 11 pm when booze shops close in Hyderabad.
He was booked under section 34(a) of the Andhra Pradesh Excise Act (imports, exports, transports, manufactures, collects, or possesses or sells any intoxicant without a license).
The case is just the tip of the iceberg. Since July 2016, around 63 FIRs have been registered against bootleggers. These include one case in 2016, four in 2017, ten in 2018, 19 in 2019, 15 in 2020, and 14 this year so far.
Investigation into the rape and murder case has revealed the accused was a chronic alcoholic who frequently was found lying at bus stands and pavements. During the investigation, it was found that not only auto drivers or daily wage laborers sell booze after liquor shops down their shutters, but also local Kirana shopkeepers.
In most of the FIRs, the accused sell liquor at higher prices to make easy money. Most of the accused don't have a proper source of income.
"We are looking into the issue of these bootleggers and drug issue in the area," said M Mahendar Reddy, DGP on Friday in a press conference.
