Teachers find illicit liquor in student’s school bag in Kerala; 28 litres seized in follow-up raid

Thamarassery, Kerala: Teachers at a government school in a hilly region of Kozhikode district were shocked to find a half-litre bottle of illicit country liquor (arrack) in the school bag of a 15-year-old Class 10 student during an inspection prompted by suspicion.

When questioned, the student reportedly told teachers that another classmate had placed the liquor in his bag. Further questioning of the second student led police to information about a person allegedly involved in the illegal liquor trade.

Acting on the tip-off, Thamarassery police conducted searches near the suspect's residence and recovered 56 half-litre bottles of country liquor, totalling 28 litres. The liquor had been hidden in two sacks in a rubber plantation in Kattippara.

Police produced both juveniles before the Juvenile Court for illegally possessing and handling liquor and for bringing it onto school premises.

A case under the Abkari Act has been registered against Ramesan (40), a resident of Poovanmala. Police said the liquor was found in a rubber plantation near his house and is believed to have been manufactured elsewhere before being stored there. He is currently absconding.

The incident came to light on Wednesday when a teacher raised suspicions during a School Protection Committee meeting that a student had brought illicit liquor to school. The authorities had also received confidential information that liquor had been brought to the school on three occasions and consumed by around six students.

When one of the suspected students stepped out, teachers inspected his school bag and found the liquor, following which the police were informed.

The search operation was carried out by a team led by Principal SI Gautham Hari, along with SIs V.K. Razak, P.P. Mohammed Ashiq and Bins Joseph, ASIs Sreejith and Shiny, and other police personnel.