Action against illegal liquor consumption

A Correspondent

TANGLA, May 23: The efforts of the Udalguri district Mahila Kurmi Samaj to eradicate the growing country liquor dens in Udalguri has woken up the Udalguri Excise department from deep slumber. The Udalguri Excise department, by the efforts of Superintendent of Excise, Udalguri, Pritam Baruah, organized a public awareness meet on the growing culture of illegal country liquor consumption at Orang Laxmi Mandir premises in Udalguri on Tuesday. The meeting was presided over by Baruah and was also addressed by president of Udalguri, Mahila Kurmi Samaj, Sarla Mahato who exhorted the women to join hands in unison to curb the menace. In his speech, Orang OC, Gagan Chandra Deka spoke on the 53(1), 54, 55 and 61(A) and 61(B) clauses of the Amendment Bill of Assam Excise Act, 2000 where Section 53 (1), 54 & 55, which were bailable sections earlier, have been made non- bailable.

The president of Mahila Kurmi Samaj expressed her dismay over the deaths and crimes in recent past due to the consumption of liquor by youngsters. The Orang unit of The All Assam Tea Tribes Students’ Association (AATSA) also submitted a memorandum in this regard to the excise officials. The secretary of Orang unit, Kurmi Mahila Parishad, Debhari Mahato exhorted the excise department to take stringent action against illegal liquor at the earliest. The organizations also threatened of launching protest rallies if the excise department failed to act swiftly.

The meeting, which was attended by members of various women organizations, student bodies and noted citizens of the locality, exhorted the Excise department and Udalguri district administration to impose the sections of the new excise bill on offenders. The Inspector of Excise, Udalguri, Prasanta Dutta assured the gathering of creating awareness on the new excise laws in the district and taking stringent action after a fortnight.