Excise Personnel led by the Commissioner of Excise, Maongwati Aier disposing illegal liquor on April 11 in Dimapur.
So does sale, seizure and destruction of alcohol
DIMAPUR, APRIL 11 (MExN): The Department of Excise & Prohibition on April 11 destroyed a total of 15, 441 bottles of an assortment of illicit IMFL in Dimapur. The liquor was seized during the period between July, 2012 and February 2013.
According to the department, a total of 196 cases were registered in connection with the liquor destroyed today. Monetary penalty amounting to Rs. 2, 80, 500 was imposed and realised from an undisclosed number of people, who were caught with the illicit liquor. The value of the destroyed liquor in the illicit liquor market of Dimapur is estimated at Rs. 18, 93, 000.
Commissioner of Excise, Maongwati Aier, speaking at the function, which had in attendance representatives from the civil society, including the Naga Council, Dimapur, brought to attention the damage caused by alcohol on human resource. He also highlighted the activities and performance of the department in the fight against bootlegging.
Expressing anxiety over the health concerns caused by (spurious) alcohol abuse, Aier quoting medical professionals said that an alarming increase of cases of liver cirrhosis is being reported. “(Many) Nagas are dying of liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse, he said, while adding, “Liquor is a giant killer... we should be careful of this.” On the activities and performance of the department, he stated that the Election Commission of India (ECI) was quite impressed with the performance of the department during the recently concluded Nagaland Assembly elections.
Stating that the recognition is an honour for the department and its personnel, he disclosed that the ECI has requested the Nagaland Excise to share its experiences with their counterparts in Karnataka, which is headed for polls in May.
In the period leading up to the elections, a total of 340 alcohol-related cases were registered by the department, while as many as 364 people were arrested and penalized. In the process, the department was able to confiscate around 22, 000 litres of alcohol, besides confiscating illicit drugs totalling 26, 000 in tablet form, Aier said. He also lauded the effort of the Assam government in checking free-flow of liquor from the neighbouring state to Nagaland during the elections. Displaying its concern, the Assam government had declared February 22 and 23 as ‘Dry day(s)’, Aier added.
Aier also highlighted the shortage of manpower in the state Excise department. Calling on the government to explore ways and means to plug the gap, he informed that on average; in the present circumstance, the department is able to deploy only around 30 personnel per district. The department requires an additional 200 personnel to strengthen the existing 264 men and women of the Nagaland Excise department, he said.
On the open practice of restaurants and hotels catering liquor, the Excise Commissioner said, “They should know that it is illegal to even sell a peg of liquor.” Since November 2012, the department have arrested and penalised no less than 200 hotel owners and workers, yet they return to the same trade, he said. Putting in a word of caution, he said that it is not only the sellers to be blamed; the buyers should also know that it is illegal.
