Odisha excise raids are facing growing resistance, with at least four attacks on enforcement personnel reported across the state in less than a month, including an incident in Cuttack district where villagers allegedly freed a detained bootlegger after officials seized illicit liquor and ganja.
The latest incident took place on Friday evening in Ratapat village under the Baramba police station limits. According to excise officials, a team seized more than 2,200 litres of illegally manufactured country liquor and over 3 kg of ganja before detaining Chhabi Seth, 50. Scores of villagers allegedly confronted the team, assaulted officials and forcibly took away the accused along with part of the seized contraband.
Excise squad member Khageswar Behera sustained injuries in the attack. Following a complaint at Baramba police station, police launched a manhunt to trace Seth, officials said. The report did not state whether the accused had been arrested again.
The Cuttack incident came three days after an excise enforcement operation in Ganjam district also turned violent. On October 6, alleged miscreants attacked officials escorting arrested illicit liquor traders near Bharasha village under Khallikote police station limits. Two excise personnel were injured and admitted to hospital, while police arrested two attackers. The liquor trader who was freed during the incident remained at large, according to officials.
An earlier raid in Sundargarh district also resulted in injuries and damage to an enforcement vehicle. On September 28, villagers allegedly attacked excise personnel with sticks, stones and catapults during a raid on an illegal liquor manufacturing unit at Alangpani village. Two officials were injured, and police later registered a case and arrested five people.
The incidents have raised concerns about the safety of field officers as the excise department intensifies action against illicit liquor and narcotics. Excise Commissioner P Anvesha Reddy said the department was strengthening operational planning and coordination with police.
“Proper planning of enforcement operations, arrangement of force requisition and greater focus on evidence gathering are being ensured to enhance safety and support for enforcement teams,” Reddy said. “FIRs have been registered in such cases and strict follow-up action is being taken in coordination with police wherever necessary.”
The department’s response places emphasis on arranging police support before raids, improving evidence collection and pursuing cases registered after attacks. The immediate enforcement challenge remains the ability of field teams to secure detained suspects and seized material while operating in areas where groups of residents can obstruct raids.
