Watch groups for liquor and drug checks in Kallakurichi: Free, sustained operation needed

Kallakurichi District Collector MS Prashant who has recently taken charge following the hooch incident has stepped up the measures to completely eliminate counterfeit liquor in Kallakurichi district. He has set up 562 village level vigilance committees to prevent the sale of liquor and prohibited drugs.

The committee headed by the village administrative officer will be involved in surveillence. Appropriate criminal action will be taken by the police against the culprits based on the information provided by these teams on the detection, hoarding, sale and smuggling of counterfeit liquor in the rural areas under their jurisdiction.

Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has ordered the police to take strict action against those who are guilty of bootlegging and contraband sales. There should be no coercion on the part of the police. Only if they act independently in this matter can we prevent a recurrence like the Kallakurichi incident.

At the same time there should be continuity in the activities of the groups so that there is no stagnation. It is also the duty of the government to create a safe environment for the committee members to work without fear.

This operation has been carried out only after sacrificing 65 lives. However, District Collector M.S Prashant who took this serious initiative is commendable.
Like Kallakurichi in all the other districts of Tamil Nadu immediately setting up monitoring teams and conducting more raids by the police would stop the sale of illicit liquor and drugs!