Anti-hooch operation in Vellore village wins residents’ pat for police

With two local affluent families reported to be mainly indulging in the illegal activity in Vangoor in Walaja taluk, inspector E Thirunavukarasu said that this refrained the locals from questioning their act. However, with the local youth cooperating with the cops after a meeting held last month, he said this led to them getting first-hand details on the whereabouts of the illegal activity of the accused- Palani and Santhamurthy.

“The problems usually associated with TASMAC shops was also felt here sharply due to the limited population. Women being teased, and them wanting the police to eradicate the menace to save their menfolk from death were the reasons why the local youth showed willingness to help the police,” said a local who wished to not be named.

With Thirunavukarasu mentioning the police destroying the illicit brew and foiling the attempts of the culprits to sell it, sub-inspector E Suganya added, “It was here that we were helped by the local youth who provided us with information on where hooch was being distilled. We will raid the area immediately and destroy it.”

Thirunavukarasu said detaining Palani’s henchman, Thangam, under the Goondas Act, and nabbing Babuji, another accomplice, helped in curbing the illicit trade.

This successful operation executed over a month’s time has led to the villagers expressing their gratitude to the cops, by the installation of large hoardings in the locality in appreciation of their efforts.