3 min readAhmedabadJan 6, 2010 04:02 AM IST
First published on: Jan 6, 2010 at 04:02 AM IST
The family of an alleged liquor kingpin — who was killed in a police raid at Kharij village in Patan district a few days ago — has admitted to running a hooch brewery at the village. They have lodged an FIR against the Local Crime Branch (LCB) alleging that Manuji Thakor was killed ‘deliberately’.
Thakor’s nephew Jagdish,who lodged the FIR with the Patan city police,and is now on the run,told The Indian Express that the family was brewing hooch at Kharij for the last 30 years and that the police regularly collected money from them.
He said: “Our family,from the time of my uncle and our grandfather,were into hooch brewing business,which is our main source of income. His wife Hansaji and other women,including the minor girl Sumitraji (killed in the police firing),brew hooch near our house at Amrutpura in Kharij,using local variants like jaggery,spirit and wheat flour. The police knew about our business and collected Rs 5,000 per month as bribe.”
Thakor’s nephew also admitted that the hooch was supplied to villages in north Gujarat. “Our two men — Imtiaz and Hasan Qureshi — travelled to Mehsana,Banaskantha and even Ahmedabad district,” he said.
The Patan police,along with the LCB,raided Manuji’s house on Wednesday and arrested seven members of the family and two of his bootleggers. Additionally,5,000 litres of spirit and 135 bottles of foreign liquor were seized from the spot.
Jagdish,however,said: “We only brew hooch and never traded in foreign liquor. The police brought it from Rajsthan to fabricate the huge seizure made in the raid. The police have been harassing us constantly.”
Superintendent of Police A S Gehlot admitted that the Thakors have lodged an FIR alleging that Manuji was deliberately killed.
Investigating Officer Inspector A B Odedara,however,said: “The family alleges murder whereas it was a fallout of the police shootout. A mob of nearly 80 people had pelted stones and attacked the police with sticks and knives. Previously,Thakor had attacked us when we attempted to raid his house. There are four cases of police assault against Thakor’s son. Whenever the police attempted to arrest him,the family absconded. Their neighbours were pressurised to stay mum.”
Manuji Mathurji,a native of Dharmada village of Patan,migrated to Kharij 30 years ago and set up a brewery at Para. Manuji had a strong hold in the village and the family boast of fixed deposits of Rs 10 to 20 lakh despite having no other occupation.
The Patan police said Manuji had seven cases of violation of Prohibition Act registered against him.
His sons — Arvindji,Kanaji,Kantiji Dharmaji were accused in nine,four and nine cases under the violation of the Prohibition Act,respectively. Besides,Thakor’s wife and other women have cases of rioting and hurt booked against them in the past,they said.
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