A sharp increase in liquor-related cases in Ahmedabad has highlighted the scale of enforcement following the Bhavnagar spurious liquor tragedy. In just two days after deaths linked to the suspected consumption of illicit liquor were confirmed, the number of prohibition cases registered in the city more than tripled, while seizures of liquor and beer cans also jumped dramatically.
Police data comparing August 16–17 with August 18–19 shows that prohibition cases increased from 69 to 215, a rise of 212%. The number of people caught also rose sharply, while the quantity of liquor and beer cans seized recorded an even bigger jump.
The figures came after authorities ordered a special drive to strengthen enforcement of Gujarat’s prohibition law.
Cases More Than Triple After the Tragedy
Before the deaths were confirmed, police had registered 69 prohibition cases in Ahmedabad on August 16 and 17.
During those two days, 67 people were caught, and police seized around 355 litres of liquor.
The situation changed significantly after the Bhavnagar tragedy came to light.
On August 18 and 19, police registered 215 prohibition cases, compared with 69 during the previous two-day period. This represents a 212% increase.
The number of individuals caught also rose from 67 to 244, marking a 264% increase.
The figures indicate that enforcement activity intensified considerably once the seriousness of the liquor tragedy became clear.
Liquor Seizures Rise 447%
The crackdown also resulted in a major increase in the amount of liquor seized.
Police seized 355 litres of liquor on August 16–17. This increased to 1,941 litres during August 18–19.
That represents a rise of around 447% in just two days.
Of the 215 prohibition cases registered during August 18–19, around 168 cases involved country-made liquor, while 47 cases were linked to foreign liquor, according to the figures.
The data shows that the enforcement drive covered both locally produced illicit liquor and illegally possessed or supplied foreign liquor.
Beer Can Seizures See a Massive Jump
The biggest increase was recorded in the seizure of beer cans.
During August 16–17, police seized 380 beer cans. After the intensified crackdown, the number jumped to 10,885 cans during August 18–19.
That is a staggering 2,765% increase.
The seized property during the two-day enforcement drive was valued at approximately ₹1.04 crore.
The sharp rise suggests that the police operation was not limited to searching for spurious liquor. Teams also carried out action against the possession and sale of other forms of liquor in violation of Gujarat’s prohibition rules.
What Triggered the Intensified Drive?
The enforcement action followed the Bhavnagar spurious liquor tragedy, in which deaths were reported after people allegedly consumed illicit liquor.
According to the information available, a party allegedly took place on the evening of August 16. Reports later emerged that some people who attended had consumed liquor from bottles carrying labels of Royal Stag.
The first reports surfaced on August 17, while deaths connected to the suspected consumption of the liquor were confirmed on August 18.
The tragedy brought renewed attention to the enforcement of prohibition laws and prompted authorities to intensify checks across the city.
Special Prohibition Drive Ordered
Following the developments, a special prohibition drive was ordered by the Director General of Police and the city police leadership.
Police teams were instructed to step up action against illegal liquor activities and intensify searches and night-time checking.
The aim was to identify people involved in the illegal supply and possession of liquor and to prevent further incidents.
The Ahmedabad police commissioner also directed teams to double down on illegal liquor activity.
More People Found Drunk During Night Checks
The intensified operation did not only result in seizures.
According to the police, many of the cases involved people who were found drunk during night checking operations.
The increase in arrests and cases therefore reflected both action against the supply of liquor and enforcement against people found consuming or possessing it illegally.
Authorities attributed the sharp rise in numbers to the intensified enforcement campaign following the tragedy.
What the Numbers Show
The intensified crackdown resulted in a sharp rise across all major enforcement indicators. Prohibition cases increased from 69 on August 16–17 to 215 on August 18–19, marking a 212% rise.
The number of individuals caught jumped from 67 to 244, an increase of 264%. Liquor seizures rose from 355 litres to 1,941 litres, representing a 447% increase. The biggest jump was recorded in beer seizures, with the number of cans seized rising from 380 to 10,885, a staggering 2,765% increase.
The figures show that the rise was not limited to the number of cases. The quantity of liquor recovered and the number of people caught also increased substantially.
Crackdown Highlights Larger Enforcement Challenge
The dramatic rise in seizures after the Bhavnagar tragedy raises an important question about the scale of illegal liquor activity that enforcement teams may encounter when intensive checking is carried out.
At the same time, the police have maintained that the increase in cases and seizures was a result of the special, intensified enforcement drive, rather than necessarily indicating a sudden increase in illegal liquor activity.
For Gujarat, where prohibition remains in force, the incident has once again brought the issue of illegal liquor supply and enforcement into sharp focus.
The immediate response has been a stronger police crackdown, with more night checks, searches, arrests and seizures. The much larger numbers recorded in the two days following the tragedy show the extent of enforcement that can be achieved when additional resources and focused operations are deployed.
Also Read: Bhavnagar Liquor Tragedy: 9 Dead, 39 Hospitalised; Shaktisinh Gohil Seeks Resignations On Moral Grounds https://www.vibesofindia.com/bhavnagar-spurious-liquor-tragedy-death-toll-rises-to-9/
