Poll panel bans liquor production

After a record haul of liquor in Bathinda district a couple of days ago, the Election Commission on Tuesday ordered to stop production and dispatch of liquor from five distilleries in the state.

V K Singh, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and V K Bhawra, Additional Director General of Police Punjab, informed that the step has been taken after preliminary investigation and only those distilleries have been told to stop the dispatch whose liquor was found in the raid.

He said that 34 certified paid news cases have been detected so far. The CEO said that he is personally monitoring the situation in Malerkotla and has advised Director General of Police Mohammad Mustafa to stay at the headquarters till the polling date. Punjab borders will be completely sealed 48 hours prior to the election.