Actor Joju George hits out against Congress protest against fuel hike
Kochi(PTI): A Congress protest against fuel price hike on Monday saw a row break after Malayalam film actor Joju George questioned the agitators who blocked a busy National Highway in the city.
Agitated Congress workers allegedly smashed the glass of his vehicle, alleging that the actor, in a drunken state, "misbehaved" with the women workers of the party who were protesting against the skyrocketing prices of the petrol and diesel.
Asked about the Congress complaint against George, police said the actor has been taken to a police station. The police also took his vehicle into custody.
Police took the actor to a government hospital in Tripunithura for medical examination after the Congress workers complained that he created trouble in the protest venue in a drunken state.
Police also said action would be taken against those who shattered the glass of his vehicle.
"Action would be taken against the culprits after examining the video footage of the incidents. No written permission was sought for the agitation but there was enough police deployment after coming to know about the protest through the media," a police officer told reporters.
As the protesters blocked the highway, George, whose car got trapped in the Vyttila area, came out of it and urged the agitators to end the protest as it was causing difficulties for the commuters.
The actor was joined by several other people, who also questioned the manner in which the protest is being carried out in a busy highway.
District Congress Committee (DCC) president Mohammed Shiyas claimed that the 30-minute road blocking protest was organised after giving notice to the police and publicising about it through the media.
Condemning the actions of the actor, Shiyas alleged that George created trouble in the protest venue in a drunken state and misbehaved with women workers of the party.
George, while talking to reporters, said the mode of protest blocking the road was not acceptable.
Such "shameful" protests should not be repeated again as it was affecting people who have ventured out of their houses for their various needs, the actor said.
He alleged that the local Congress leaders abused him.
KPCC chief K Sudhakaran condemned the action of the actor and sought legal action against him.
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41 lakh illicit liquor seized, 1.84 lakh arrested in major drive: K'taka Minister tells Assembly
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): The Karnataka Excise Department has conducted a statewide crackdown on illegal liquor trade over the last two years, resulting in arrests and seizures of alcohol, Karnataka Excise Minister R B Timmapur said on Tuesday.
As many as 1,09,017 people were arrested, and seizures included 13.66 lakh litres of liquor and 27.19 lakh litres of beer, he said in a written reply to a starred question by Harihar BJP MLA B P Harish in the Karnataka Assembly.
The Minister said the enforcement drive covered the financial year 2023–24, 2024–25 up to June, and 2025–26 from July to October, targeting unauthorised liquor manufacture, storage, sale and transportation across the State.
"During this period, statewide enforcement drives resulted in a total of 1,84,570 raids against illegal liquor sales,” Timmapur said.
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He noted that 9,179 non-bailable cases and 91,968 bailable and compoundable cases under Section 15(A) of the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, were registered during the same period.
According to him, there have been no reports indicating that students have become addicted to alcohol due to illegal liquor sales.
The sale of alcohol to minors is strictly prohibited under the Karnataka Excise Act, 1965, and the department has issued periodic instructions to initiate legal action against violators, with strict enforcement and investigation measures in place, the Minister said.
Excise officials are carrying out regular road and night patrols, collecting intelligence, monitoring habitual offenders and conducting raids to identify illicit distillation units, unauthorised liquor outlets and spurious liquor manufacturing centres, he said, adding the department is also enforcing the law to prevent the production, storage, sale and transport of spurious, non-duty-paid and unauthorised liquor.
Regular patrols are being conducted on national and state highways, with suspicious vehicles being subjected to checks.
At the district level, standing committee meetings are held under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners, and joint operations are carried out with the police and forest departments to curb excise-related offences.
The department is also conducting awareness programmes through Gram Sabhas and in schools and colleges to educate the public and students about the physical, mental and social health hazards associated with alcohol addiction and substance abuse, Timmapur added.
