CU raid uncovers illegal liquor den; two held

The proctorial body of the University of Chittagong (CU) seized around 40 litres of locally brewed liquor and dismantled an illegal distillation setup during a late-night anti-narcotics raid on the campus early today.

One Suman Chakma and a woman he had falsely introduced as his wife were detained and later handed over to police, university officials said.

The operation was carried out around 12:20am at a tin-shed house on campus located north of the Green House area behind the Faculty of Biological Sciences. The raid was conducted jointly by CU's proctorial team and campus security personnel acting on a tip-off.

According to officials, Suman had been living on university-leased land for about 15 years, cultivating the plot leased from a man named Bokhtiar Fakir. Behind his cowshed, he had been running an illicit liquid factory on a long-enclosed veranda, producing and supplying locally brewed alcohol. A section of CU students was also among the regular buyers, officials added.

During interrogation, Suman admitted to poaching wild boars, deer, and other wildlife from the nearby forest, a claim confirmed by Assistant Proctor Nurul Hamid Kanan.

Assistant Proctor Kanan said police, led by Inspector Mostafa Kamal of the CU Police Outpost, arrived during the operation and collected evidence. "He has been handed over to the police, and a case has been filed under the Narcotics Control Act, wildlife protection laws, and for involvement in immoral activities," he said.

He added that the lease of the university land would be cancelled for carrying out illegal activities and unauthorised tree-cutting, and financial penalties were being processed.

Inspector Mostafa Kamal said his team rushed to the spot after receiving the information. "A four-member police team joined the raid along with the CU proctorial body. We identified the liquor den and later sent the detainees to the police station after filing the case."

Suman was shown arrested in the case, while the woman was let go, he said.