Imphal, Feb. 26: In the run up to the ensuing general elections in Manipur, police and excise authorities have seized liquor including local brew liquor as well as Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) amounting to Rs 64,02816 in recent time.
Since the announcement of elections in Manipur on January 4, enforcement agencies seized more than 63,840 litres of liquor including 53,457 litres of country liquor and 1445 litres of Indian made foreign liquor worth Rs 64,02816 since the enforcement on code of conduct of the elections. Besides a cash of Rs 89,28,200 was seized from January 4 to February 24,2017.
Manipur has been a dry state since 1991 following widespread pressure from the civil society organisations to control use of alcohol and drug.
In order to conduct the upcoming March 4 and 8 polls free and fair, 118 Flying Squads and 111 static surveillance teams have been operationalised to check movement of cash, liquor, drugs and other freebies in Manipur.
Excise department has also set up 39 check posts. Six nodal officers and one state nodal officer have been deployed.
Special check posts will be also set up at Moreh, Churachandpur, Pallel and Jessami along Indo-Myanmar border, according to official sources. Under Election Commission’s direction, Narcotics Control Bureau, Imphal, has set up joint teams with police, Assam Rifles and other agencies to destroy illicit poppy cultivation in many places. So far poppy cultivation across more than 100 acres have reportedly been destroyed.
