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Dimapur, Sep. 13 (EMN): Concerned over what they stated was ‘rampant sale of spurious liquor in the area which is now the hot-bed of illegal liquor business affecting the entire state’, the leaders of ‘neighbouring villages under Chümoukedima town circle’ held a co-ordination meeting on September 12, at the initiative of Naga Tribal Union Chümoukedima Town (NTUCT).
According to a press release from the union on Sunday, during the meeting some of the members had highlighted the issue of ‘kingpins or illegal liquor barons of Nagaland state, living in the villages in and around Chümoukedima, having a powerful syndicate network, where national workers, Excise and Police personnel manning the check gates are also involved due to hefty sum paid to them on regular basis’.
The leaders questioned the credibility of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act and maintained that the state government should either ‘put more teeth’ into the implementing agency or lift the Act, “because the Act as of now is only a paper tiger as it only brings shame and disgrace,” it stated.
They also questioned the credentials of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in their fight against uncontrolled flow of illegal and spurious liquor in the present scenario.
Following a ‘thorough deliberation’, the leaders ‘unanimously agreed’ to appeal to the state government to revisit the NLPT Act and suggest for ‘wide consultative meetings’ with the stakeholders to decide whether to re-amend or withdraw the Act.
They reminded the current set of NBCC leaders that the NLPT Act was passed in the state assembly at the behest of NBCC, but simply passing the Act was not the end, “we need concerted and continuous efforts of the NBCC to keep pressuring the state government and also prepare an action-plan for the church” to continue the fight.
“The joint neighbouring villages under Chümoukedima town circle in the meeting unanimously resolved to impose heavy penalty on the house owner and landlord found involved in this banned and prohibited activities. The neighbouring villages under Chümoukedima town circle (particularly those along the National Highway) strongly resolved to stop and flush out sale of illegal liquor and any banned psychotropic substances with joint efforts,” it stated.
The village leaders appreciated the security personnel, particularly the 5th Assam Rifles, for busting the ‘illegal spurious liquor bottling plant’ at 7th Mile Model Village on September 4.
They also resolved to co-operate and support the security forces or any agency enforcing Prohibition in the state.
“Appeal to the police commissioner and Excise department to destroy the confiscated consignments in full public view without misusing them. Appeal to the authority concerned to award stringent actions against those who were caught for this nefarious business,” read the resolutions.