Raids on booze shops in Manipur

IMPHAL: In compliance with the Election Commission's guidelines, sleuths of the state excise department have intensified raids on liquor outlets across Manipur.

On Tuesday, the officials seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and country liquor from some food joints near Pologround in Imphal. Police, as well as anti-drug NGOs, carry out similar drives in many places, including Bishnupur district. Though Manipur is a dry state, the sale and consumption of liquor is on in full force, with a large number of anti-drug bodies and excise sleuths carrying out sudden raids on illicit liquor outlets and hotels.

So far, the state excise department has confiscated huge amounts of imported liquor and country brew worth over Rs 7 lakh since the model code of conduct came into force in the state on March 5.

Altogether, 182 persons have been pulled up during the drive and Rs 2, 47,600 collected as fine, a senior excise official said. He added that the seized liquor has been destroyed at the excise department's office at Lamphelpat here.

Stating that most of the seized IMFL was bought from the canteens of security forces, including different battalions of Manipur Rifles stationed in Imphal, he said the department would deploy flying squads to check illegal deals which also breach the Prohibition act.

Sources said foreign liquor of different brands is smuggled from Myanmar through Manipur's border town of Moreh, while IMFL is brought along the Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Silchar routes by goods carriers.