Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 31
TIPPLERS in Dimapur have become victims in the ungainly tussle over control of the supply of “illegal liquor” between the liquor syndicate and soft law enforcers.
Since 1989, Nagaland has officially donned the mask of a dry state, at the behest of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council. Alcohol, in any which form or name, has always been a “loyal” and lethal companion to the Nagas, and it continues to be so even today.The façade of Prohibition has, over the years, made crorepattis out of bootleggers who now operate under a syndicate system, rumored to be monitored and controlled by some Naga underground leaders.
Sometime in the early part of this year, the Commissioner of Excise and Narcotics of Nagaland was invited by the state of Karnataka to speak of the “success story” of Prohibition in Nagaland. The news was met with unrestrained scorn and ridicule.
While it goes without saying that no liquor dealer would ever dare come out and say it, yet in private they admit that palms have to be greased, and the list includes Excise as well as Police personnel. Should they expose the filth or remain silent? Either way, they are caught in a trap.
And yet, to make up for the haftas and free booze given to police patrol parties, they unabashedly admit that they pinch it out of the pockets of their customers. Without the “immunity” provided by Kalashnikovs and Khaki uniforms, the customers have no choice but to pay for their choice of adulterated liquor, and indirectly for the misdemeanors of the lawmen as well.
For the past few days, Dimapur has witnessed a “scarcity” of liquor of all brands. Almost all the booze joints and “liquor stores” have downed shutters citing an order to close down shops from a certain Naga underground group.
One person who had dared flout the order on Friday was reportedly whisked off to the outfit’s headquarter last night from New Market area. Sources said that the price of his safe release has been set at Rs 1 lakh. Neither the police nor the Excise officials were aware of the development.
The latest version of Prohibition, advocated by the National workers, has also managed to drill holes in the pocket of the hapless consumers. As a result of the ban, liquor prices in Dimapur have increased by 60% to 100%.
Though struck by fear, a few liquor shops in town area continue to sell alcohol through the backdoor and with a highly inflated rate. A bottle of Rum, which cost Rs 150 earlier, is now being priced at Rs 280. In some shops located away from the town, it reportedly costs Rs 300 per bottle.
Similarly, a bottle of Blenders Pride whiskey is now being bought at Rs 800 per bottle. Earlier it cost Rs 480, before the forced closure. Other whisky brands of lower quality, like McDowell No 1, Platinum and OC Blue, to name a few, cost Rs 400 per bottle as compared to Rs 300 earlier.
Interestingly, in stark contrast the high end resto-lounges, which in effect are no less than booze joints, have not been affected by the order. And not surprisingly, a conspiracy theory is doing the rounds that goes back to the real owner of these watering holes.
Only recently the Dimapur administration and police conducted midnight raids in some of the resto-lounges in downtown Dimapur, which have been rumored to enjoy protection of a certain underground group. More than 100 youth were also arrested in the raid.
The action seemingly did not go down well with the owners of the resto lounge.
The subsequent crackdown by the underground group on the rest of the booze joints is widely seen as a full-scale revenge. And if indeed, it is a form of vengeance, then it surely is double-barrelled.
On one hand there is the diktat to shut shop, but simultaneously the underground leaders, who are in control of the liquor syndicate, have also decided to hike the wholesale price of liquor at the same time.
