By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 3 Sep: After the much talked about incident concerning assault on journalist Yogesh Dimri by a known history sheeter, Sunil alias Ganja, who is well known as a liquor mafia and liquor smuggler since past several decades, the Dehradun district Police have finally swung into action towards curbing illicit liquor trade in Rishikesh. It may be recalled that trade and sale of liquor is completely prohibited within the municipal boundaries of Rishikesh city. However, there have been reports of large scale illicit trade of liquor in the city. Journalist Yogesh Dimri had been running a campaign against this and was therefore assaulted by the liquor mafia Sunil Kumar alias Ganja and injured seriously. Widespread anguish among the media circles and the people, have forced the Rishikesh Police and Dehradun District Police to take serious cognisance of the incident and finally, a case of assault was registered by the Police and Sunil Ganja arrested.
Not only this, Dehradun SSP Ajai Singh has dissolved the Rishikesh Special Operation Group (SOG) ostensibly over its failure to curb illicit liquor trade and in view of assault on journalist Yogesh Dimri by liquor mafia. The SSP has expressed his dissatisfaction over attack on a journalist by the liquor mafia and the ineffective action against liquor smugglers. He has ordered dissolution of SOG Rural which has been attached to the Dehradun SSP office. Singh has announced that now there will be only one SOG in the district which will report directly to the Dehradun SSP. Along with this, the police officers and employees posted in Rishikesh and Raiwala police stations for the last 10 years are also being transferred and sent to different police stations. The question here also arises how a large number of police officials have managed to remain posted in Rishikesh for so long. Posting in Rishikesh is considered to be a creamy one in the police as well as the administration.
SSP Ajai Singh also held a review meeting in this connection in Rishikesh during which the figures of this year’s action against illegal liquor at Rishikesh police station were checked. It has been claimed that during the past 8 months, many liquor smugglers and liquor mafia have been arrested and sent behind the bars. During this period, the police registered a total of 113 cases and arrested 111 smugglers. However, this action has proved ineffective in curbing illicit trade of liquor and liquor smuggling and it was in view of this that the Rural SOG has been dissolved. It is now expected that more than two dozen police personnel can be transferred from Rishikesh police station anytime soon now. There is a general belief that the Police action is being taken after the escalation of the issue following the assault on Dimri. In view of this, SSP Ajai Singh reached the bus transit compound in Rishikesh today and held a review meeting with the police personnel. During this, the SSP observed that the performance of Rishikesh Kotwali Police has been better in catching liquor. Rishikesh Police has arrested a liquor smuggler and sent him to jail almost every second day during the last 8 months. During this period, the police registered a total of 113 cases and arrested 111 smugglers. However, SOG Rural has not been able to take action against the big liquor smugglers. In view of this, the entire team of SOG Rural has been disbanded and attached to the Doon SSP office.
Speaking to the media persons in Rishikesh, the SSP shared that four cases have been registered in the case of fighting between two parties in the Indira Nagar case of Rishikesh. In one case, accused Sunil has been arrested and sent to jail, while in the remaining three cases, investigation is going on against the named and unknown accused. Action will be taken after the investigation. He also claimed that along with this, a list is being prepared by identifying the smugglers who have been smuggling liquor in the Rishikesh area for the last several years so that they can be monitored.
