High-Tech Liquor Smuggling Network in Purnia: Use of Walkie-Talkies for Delivery Poses Major Challenge for Police
Purnia. Defying the liquor prohibition law, smugglers in Purnia city have now become 'high-tech' in their criminal operations. To ensure safe delivery of illicit liquor and to evade police raids, smugglers have started resorting to 'walkie-talkies' for communication. An investigation by Hindustan has revealed that this network of smugglers has become so organized that they share real-time information with each other on secret frequencies. This high-tech game being played in the heart of the city has kept the local police and the excise department on their toes.
How Does This Walkie-Talkie Syndicate Work?
Liquor smugglers have established their own private communication network. The delivery boy, referred to as the 'supplier,' remains connected to his associates (scouts) stationed at various squares across the city. As soon as a delivery boy leaves with liquor for a customer's house, information regarding police pickets or patrolling teams on his route is relayed to him via walkie-talkie.
Generally, these smugglers use codewords. For instance, a police vehicle is addressed by a specific code name. If there is an obstacle on the route, the path is changed immediately. This technology has provided the smugglers with a 'safety shield' against raids.
Recent Case: Uncovering a Major Conspiracy
Recently, the revelations made by a youth arrested in one of the city's neighborhoods left the police stunned. A state-of-the-art walkie-talkie set was recovered from the youth, which he was using continuously while supplying liquor. The accused revealed that their 'informers' are deployed at every major intersection and sensitive area of the city, using walkie-talkies instead of phone calls to avoid call tracing.
The police believe that this is not a sporadic operation but a well-planned 'delivery syndicate,' whose mastermind is operating the entire network from outside the city.
Growing Challenges for the Police
The use of walkie-talkies has made it difficult for the police to apprehend these smugglers:
Limited Range: Walkie-talkie signals are short-range, making it challenging for the police to track these frequencies.
High Speed: Smugglers use high-speed two-wheelers for their deliveries. As soon as they sense the police's arrival, they escape through narrow lanes and alleys.
Low Cost, High Security: Unlike mobile phones, walkie-talkies do not require a SIM card, rendering the police's process of obtaining CDRs (Call Detail Records) ineffective.
What Do Experts and the Administration Say?
Regarding this matter, cyber security experts state that this is a "misuse of technology." The administration now needs to change its strategy. Senior Purnia police officials say they will utilize 'anti-interception' equipment to break this high-tech network. Soon, special 'surveillance teams' will be deployed in sensitive areas of the city, capable of decoding this communication network.
Impact on Society: Rapid Involvement of Youth
The biggest concern behind this smuggling is the involvement of the youth. Lured by the greed of making quick money, teenagers and young adults are falling into the trap of these smugglers. These youths, working as delivery boys, are not only ruining their own futures but are also getting dragged into the quagmire of crime by falling into the clutches of the law.
The Way Forward: How Will This Game End?
To make liquor prohibition successful on the ground, it is not enough to just catch liquor; this 'technical network' must be uprooted:
Technical Intelligence: The police department must utilize radio monitoring systems capable of detecting illegal frequencies.
Community Policing: Local residents need to be sensitized to report any suspicious individual or anyone roaming with a walkie-talkie to the police immediately.
Strict Legal Provisions: Penalties under existing laws should be increased for the illegal use of equipment like walkie-talkies.
This new method of liquor smuggling in Purnia is an alarm for the administration. Criminals are taking advantage of technology as time progresses, and the police need to remain one step ahead of them. If this walkie-talkie syndicate is not dismantled in time, it will not only pose a threat to the liquor ban but will also emerge as a major challenge for the city's security apparatus.
