Bhubaneswar: A string of attacks on excise personnel during enforcement drives has raised concerns over safety of field officers in Odisha, with at least four such incidents reported from different parts of the state in past less than a month.In the latest case, relatives of a suspected bootlegger snatched him away from an excise team in Cuttack district’s Baramba area on Friday evening after officials seized a large quantity of illicit liquor and ganja, triggering a police manhunt. The incident came just three days after miscreants allegedly attacked an excise team in Ganjam district and freed an arrested liquor trader.Excise commissioner P Anvesha Reddy said the department has stepped up measures to protect enforcement teams during raids. “Proper planning of enforcement operations, arrangement of force requisition and greater focus on evidence gathering are being ensured to enhance safety and support for enforcement teams. FIRs have been registered in such cases and strict follow-up action is being taken in coordination with police wherever necessary,” she said.According to excise officials, a team seized over 2,200 litres of illegally manufactured country liquor and more than 3 kg of ganja from Ratapat village under Baramba police station limits on Friday and detained accused Chhabi Seth (50). However, scores of villagers allegedly confronted the team, assaulted officials and forcibly took away the accused along with a portion of the seized contraband.Excise squad member Khageswar Behera sustained injuries in the attack. Following a complaint lodged at Baramba police station, police launched a manhunt to trace the accused, officials said. The latest attack is part of a worrying trend of resistance faced by excise teams during anti-liquor and anti-drug operations.On Oct 6, an excise enforcement operation near Bharasha village under Khallikote police station limits in Ganjam turned violent when a group of alleged miscreants attacked officials escorting arrested illicit liquor traders. Two excise personnel were injured and admitted to hospital. While police arrested two attackers, the freed accused remains at large.Earlier, on Sept 28, an excise raid on an alleged illegal liquor manufacturing unit at Alangpani village in Sundargarh district spiralled into violence after villagers allegedly attacked enforcement personnel with sticks, stones and catapults. Two officials were injured and an official vehicle was damaged. Police later registered a case and arrested five persons.The repeated attacks have highlighted growing challenges faced by excise personnel as the department intensifies its crackdown on illicit liquor and narcotics across the state.