KATHUA: The Excise Department under the guidance of T. Angchok, Excise Commissioner, J and K and under the direct supervision of Rajesh Sharma Deputy Excise Commissioner, Toll Post Lakhanpur thwarted yet another attempt of smuggling of willow clefts outside the State.
As per the details, a vehicle bearing registration No.JK02AL-2417 reported at Toll Post Lakhanpur and as per the documents produced it was reportedly loaded with apples consigned by M/s Super Shakti Goods Transport Service, Fruit Market Parimpora, Srinagar to M/s Durga Trading Co., 56C, Fruit Mandi Bijnor vide Challan No: 437 dated: 30th September 2016. There was mismatch between actual weight of the vehicle as declared by the driver and actual weight found at weight bridge thereby causing suspicion, the vehicle was put to physical check. On physical checking of the vehicle, 4000 willow clefts were recovered from the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle fled away taking advantage of the darkness. The vehicle along with the seized willow clefts has been handed over to the SHO Police Station, Lakhanpur for further investigation in the matter. It is worthwhile to mention here that the Toll Post Lakhanpur has been able to detect major haul of willow clefts and has seized 8,300 willow clefts during the current financial year. The team of the Excise Department that performed the task comprised of Excise and Taxation
T. Angchok, Excise Commissioner, J and K, Government appreciated the role of officers/officials engaged in detecting the willow clefts and thwarting the ill designs of the smugglers.