State Excise department gear-up in Assam

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Excise department has geared up to check illegal inflow of liquor to the State through inter-State and international borders.

It's feared that unhindered inflow of liquor into the State may play a role in wooing the electorate before and during the Assembly elections. The EC foresaw such a possibility in the aftermath of illicit liquor glutting Bihar during the recent Assembly election.

The department is acting in accordance with the directive issued to it by the full Election Commission team that visited the State recently. The EC asked the department to check the inflow of liquor into the State through its inter-State and international borders, and send reports on a day-to-day basis.

In its instruction, State Excise Commissioner and Secretary Rakesh Kumar has ordered the setting up of temporary Excise checkpoints at Srirampur, Chagolia, Bokajan, Lakhipur, Bandardewa, Harmati, Bhalukpung, Likabali, Khanapara etc. The Commissioner has also requested all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police to coordinate with their counterparts in the neighbouring States and countries like Bhutan and Bangladesh to check illegal inflow of illegal to the State.

The thrust areas are checking production, storage, distribution and sale of illicit liquor before and during the Assembly poll in the State. He has also asked the deputy commissioners to form district-level task forces comprising Excise and police officials.

The directive has made mention of two distilleries – Radiant Manufacture Pvt Ltd and Brahmaputra Biochemicals Pvt Ltd – so as not to allow leakage of ENA (Extra Neutral Alcohol which is the primary raw material for making alcoholic beverages) before and during the Assembly election in the State. The Commissioner has also directed them to ensure frequent and regular checking of all wholesale warehouses and retail shops located in the bordering districts.

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