Under instructions from the Election Commission, the Excise department
in Manipur had seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor bottles worth over Rs.
4,50,000. Fines amounting to a little over Rs. 2,00,000 were also
collected from the bootleggers. The seized bottles were smashed and
liquor burned in presence of lensmen.
However officials admit that the action by the authorites is limited and
only for a temporary period. Many believe that liquor flowed
perennially from the ubiquitous.
In view of the widespread drinking habit among the men, the insurgents
had closed down the 65 licenced foreign liquor shops and 3 bonded
warehouses. However the people could not be weaned away from this habit.
On the other hand, those who have benefitted from the thriving IMFL and
spurious liquor businesses, sabotaged the campaign. Eventually the
insurgents slowed down the campaign. Now truckloads of IMFL bottles are
smuggled into Imphal from Assam and Meghalaya. Besides the canteens in
the Manipur Rifles camps are freely selling the IMFL bottles which are
manufactured at roadside factories.