Liquor mafia attacks Excise officials: 12 arrested

Bhopal, July 24 (UNI) The opposition members today alleged in the Madhya Pradesh Assembly that political patronage was being extended to the liquor mafia resulting in attack on a team of Excise officials at Ratlam injuring four people.

Raising the issue through a calling attention notice, Dr Govind Singh and Mr Sajjan Singh Verma (both Cong) said District Excise Officer Sanajy Dube and two others had to be airlifted to a hospital at Indore to save their lives. The accused were provided luxurious facilities at the police station, they added.

Minister of State for Home Nagendra Singh, in his reply, said 12 people had been arrested in connection with the attack on Excise officials at Ratlam on July 6 and proceedings initiated to extern one and to detain three others under the National Security Act. Five swords, five hockey sticks and two other sticks were seized from them.

Dr Sunilam (Samajwadi Party) said a tussle between the District Collector and Superintendent of Police led to the unpleasant incident and complicity of the Town Inspector was suspected.

Denying the charge, Mr Nagendra Singh said action would be taken against the Town Inspector if his complicity was proved.

The opposition members also questioned the rationale of transferring on request the Excise Officer after the attack on him.

Mrs Saroj Bachhan Nayak, Mr Rajendra Shukla and Mr Arif Aqueel also took part in the discussion.

UNI SP