Crackdown on illegal liquor shops in Darrang

From our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, March 19: As per the assurance given by Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar in a recent press meet about taking a tough stand on the illicit country liquor business and the illegal flourishing business of Indian-made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) being carried out by a section of anti-social elements, Darrang district administration has made effective and prompt measures to curb this illegal business.

On the next day of the press meet, the Flying Squads headed by the Executive Magistrates along with excise personnel and police launched massive operation to seize a large quantity of illegally stored IMFL and country-made liquor in various places of the district. Assistant Commissioner Antara Gogoi and Circle Officer of Dalgaon Revenue Circle, Dr. Ashraful Amin led this drive in the roadside dhabas and restaurants of Dalgaon and Kharupetia area on Friday evening and destroyed several gallons of illicit liquors and seized IMFL.

Assistant Commissioner Pallabi Sarma Choudhury led the drive in Kalaigaon area while Circle Officer of Mangaldai Revenue Circle, Prasanta Borkakaty and Assistant Commissioner Pinky Borgoyari seized a number of IMFL bottles from petty paan shops and destroyed more than 500 litres of illicit liquor. Circle Officer of Sipajhar Revenue Circle, Mali Jain too conducted such a drive in Sipajhar area. A team of Mangaldai police station on Friday night rounded up two youths from LNB Road area while they were creating nuisance in public in an inebriated condition.  A section of excise staff in the district allegedly have an unholy nexus with the illicit liquor traders. The Excise department in the district has been functioning without the Superintendent and the Deputy Superintendent of Excise since quite a long period. The Deputy Superintendent of Excise at Udalguri, functioning as the in-charge Superintendent, has also been entrusted with the additiol charge of the Excise Superintendent in Darrang. At the same time, several field staff in the Excise department have been continuing their service in the district for more than four years violating all official norms. Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar, after receiving several complaints from citizens, is going to make a reshuffle of the field staff of the Excise department here. He is likely to convene a meeting with all the licensees of liquor shops and bars of the district to issue strict instructions on proper sale of IMFL.