Lorry with illegal booze up in flames on NH 66

Mapusa: After a lorry carrying Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) caught fire along the NH 66 near the Colvale-Dhargalim bridge on Tuesday morning, police discovered that the registration number of the vehicle was fake.

The police suspect an illicit liquor trade facilitated through the vehicle that held a Nagaland registration.According to eyewitnesses, the fire broke out in the driver's cabin, after which he fled the site, abandoning the vehicle on the national highway. The vehicle was travelling towards Pernem (Maharashtra border at Patradevi) from the Mapusa side when the incident occurred after crossing the Bardez-Pernem connecting bridge.The vehicle was loaded with liquor bottle boxes with fake labels — distilled, blended and bottled in the Mejwa district of MP, besides other liquors, mainly whisky, said sources. Pernem fire and emergency crew doused the fire. The cabin of the vehicle was damaged, and fire was prevented from spreading to the container portion.