The article ‘of drinks and drinkers-life goes on’ in the front page of Morung Express on the 9th of this month has caught my attention where the statement of an entrepreneur and prominent journalist and the correspondent was quoted as saying, I would want not only alcohol, but even tobacco, gutkha etc, “the excise department and the Assam rifles are doing its part in the cause of prohibition”. I disagree when credit is given as a whole to the excise department or the Assam rifles in general because for example here in Kohima I know quite a few persons who are into ‘open alcohol business’ and among their stocks in their shops are usually found a good quantity of whiskey and rum from the Assam rifle canteen at Kohima town. On casual conversations, it was said that on rare occasions the shop owners themselves go and procure it though in very less quantity. But it seems there are a few non local entrepreneurs who sell it by the ‘cases’ every month. My point here is we should definitely give credit or chabhash where deserved be it excise, military or even ‘the police’ but it should be more particularized. Not only in Mokokchung but here at Kohima too the Assam rifles confiscate alcohol in the highways and handover to the police but interestingly here they also sell it to non locals who in turn sell it to other shops. Some are (were) next to our very own Ao church at midland but sold only to known and trusted customers. I am not against the AR giving some of their purchase to us the public in reasonable quantity(after all they are friends of the hill people and we are friends of the plains people) or blame the odd number of sepoys who sell their share at times but the top officers of the present battalion in( in descending order)this town is doing more than it meets the eye or reaches the ear, not only on the above subject but various issues in ways and means unbecoming of the disciplined Indian army and individually as officers and gentleman at this period of relative peace and calm.
As for the excise department our readers are the best judge, but just in case they are willing, could they please enlighten the public as to how many people are employed in their department and how many do not consume alcohol or if they do where they procure it. There fore my request to the general public more so our newspaper correspondents is that when it comes to applauding or condemning others in this case the military please be more specific. Do not blame them in general when something goes wrong or praise them all when something goes right because believe me “not all the Assam rifles battalions are doing their part in the cause of prohibition” nor all the battalions our friends. I earnestly appeal to IGAR (N) to look into this matter of dishonesty because not all your officers are saints nor all the Nagas criminals and liars. Further more I humbly beg the people concerned not to please turn this into a paper war, though no one can stop you from denying the contents of this article. My motive is not to condemn but bring to your knowledge what I have heard and noticed.
K. R. Angami, Kohima Town
