Kharar vends defy dry day orders

KHARAR, Jan 27: In blatant violation of the Republic Day being observed a dry day, liqour was easily available in this township on Tuesday. Liquor was being sold throughout the day at almost all the country-made and English wine shops situated here. Even the shutter of a country-made wine shop, situated opposite the Kharar city police post, on Kharar-Banur road, was half down 8211; where the whole operation was being carried out right under the nose of police officials.

Kharar DSP Ashwani Kapoor said it was a matter of Excise Policy and conditions provided in it clearly state that the liquor vends should remain closed on January 26, August 15 and October 2. He added the Excise and Taxation Department was responsible for the implementation of these conditions under the Excise Act. Roopnagar Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner AFTC Jarnail Singh said: 8220;We challan the defaulters and send them to the DETC, who imposes heavy fine on them.8221; DC K.S. Sidhu said if vends in Chandigarh remain open, vends situated in the area followed suit.

Roopnagar Deputy Commissioner Kulbir Singh Sidhu said the administration deals strictly with such type of cases and there was no compromise in this regard. Besides challenging the defaulter, he said police cases were also registered against those defying ban orders.