Ways of the illicit

 

 

The village Chani Beli, an isloated ghetto squeezed between the hills of Himachal on the Mukerian-Pathankot National Highway, remains one of the dreaded areas in the region. This is the lair of the Sansi tribe, where the main source of livelihood is making illicit liquor. Almost all men and women in this village of 150 houses have criminal cases slapped against them.

“They are all criminals. Be careful,” the Station House Officer of the Pathankot police station warned, as the TSI team proceeded towards the 'den of vice', as the area is called locally. From the highway, Chani Beli appears like any other sleepy hamlet. Yet, being hounded by the police and adminstration, the dwellers, are suspicious of outsiders. As one entered the village, there are apparent signs of affluence. Most of the pucca houses are stacked with modern aminities.

Politically, the village is a Congress bastion. This became evident, when one stepped inside the double storeyed house of the former Pradhan of the village, Tilakraj. Displayed on the living room walls were the pictures of the Pradhan with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi. “I had taken a delegation to get reservation benefits under the Scheduled Tribes Act,” Tilakraj says. To cut a long story short, despite repeated representations, the government is yet to notify them under the Scheduled Tribes list. After claiming that “India also owes its freedom to the courageous Sansi tribe who fought the Mughals and British,” Tilakraj comes to the point when asked about the main sources of livelihood. “Making of liquor,” he simply said. After some persuasion, he relented and called a teenager, unloading huge plastic barrels from a tractor. “Take them around the village,” he said.

Ravi, the guide, was 17-years-old. “I have at least seven criminal cases slapped against me,” he replied, when asked about 'police victimisation'. Ravi had been in the bootlegging trade since his childhood. While his mother and sister ferment the brew, Ravi’s job is to fill them in bladders, plastic cans and reach them to the contractors . “We are very poor,” he said and took TSI to a tiny, dingy house made of bricks.

“There are no other job opportunities, so we indulge in this trade,” the mother says. She did not send her children to schools for 'lack of money' and thinking “what would be the use, since Ravi cannot get a job.” Looking at her son, she said “Ravi is the main earning member of the family, after my husband died.” “We need money to fight cases, bribe the police and hire lawyers,” she did not mince words. Affluence depends on the capacity to ferment the illicit stuff.

Fermenting units can be seen in the backyards of the houses. Jaggery is the basic ingredient for making the brew. It is mixed with water and left to ferment in drums buried under pucca streets and in the fields. There are also small underground reservoirs made to store what is called the famous, 'Channi brand.' Life here is fraught with danger. According to police reports, during the last 10 years, nearly 35 villagers were killed in smuggling activities. “They are often killed by the henchmen of the contractors,” a villager disclosed. Historically spread across the northern heart of India, Sansis are the descendants of Raja Sanswal Sansi, who died fighting with the Moghuls. It was the British which attached a 'criminal' tag to the tribe.