Excise Team attacked, 11 injured

Hubli, Nov 13 (UNI) Eleven members of a Excise raid team, including a Excise Inspector, were injured when villagers in a large number assaulted them during a raid on the house of a Village Panchayat member Ishwar Lamani for allegedly indulging in brewing illicit liquor, at Gadag, about 65 km from here today.

Police said that the irate villagers pelted stones on the vehicles of the Excise department and assaulted the officials with iron rod and other arms. They also threw chilly powder on them just to scare the away. But when the officials retaliated there was a serious clash.

Three jeeps were totally damaged. Village Panchayath member Ishwar Lamani who sustained serious injuries is in an unconscious condition.

The Excise officials conducted raid on information that Ishwar Lamani was engaged in production of illicit liquor. But his supporters came with iron rod, chilly powder and attacked the officials thus hampering their duties.

The villagers also illegally detained some of the officials in a house. As soon as the Shirahatti police were informed of the situation they rushed to the village with additional force and controlled the situation. They also detained some villagers for enquiry.

UNI XR MSP TS1933