When Newsline visited the township at around 7 p.m., the vends in Phases III-A, VII, VIII, X and the vend adjacent to the Yadavindra Public School were found to be openly dispensing liquor. However, the contractors had posted staff members as look-outs to warn of the approach of police or Excise Department officials.

Interestingly, the vend in Phase III-A and the one adjacent to the YPS are only a few yards from the UT-Punjab border, where the cops continued to stop and search vehicles at random.

When Assistant Returning Officer O.P. Popli was contacted, he said that he would order the SAS Nagar Assistant Excise and Taxation Commissioner to take necessary action and ask the SP to check them immediately and report.

Later, Mohali SP B.S. Randha told Newsline that he, accompanied by other policemen, visited the vends in the township ensuring their closure. During the surprise check conducted by a team deputed by the Assistant Returning Officer, two salesmen of Phase III-A and Phase X were arrested. A case has been registered against them under the Excise Act. The order of dry days starting from today will remain in force till the completion of the election. The Election Commission has also ordered three dry days from October 5 on the occasion of counting.