Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 11:
In a dry State like Manipur, State police personnel are having a heyday with the foreign liquor and locally brew wine seized seldom handing over to the Excise Department and tax collected from the vendors not accruing to the Government as revenue.
Excise Commissioner K Panmei told mediapersons that the instances in which the police hand over their seizure of liquor, both foreign and local, to the Excise Department are very rare.
The tax collected from the vendors by the police are also not accrued to the State Government as revenue.
He was talking to the mediapersons on the sideline of destroying 855 litres of locally brew liquor seized by Assam Rifles and later handed over to the Excise Department at the Lamphel Excise Office today.
Panmei said that Excise Department had written to the Police Department several times for handing over such seizure, the Police Department has not given any response till date.
Stating that it is illegal to run vendors and no license issued for the purpose, the Excise Commissioner said that fine are always imposed on the bootleggers and vendors owners if they are caught by Excise personnel.
Excise department is facing difficulties in meeting its financial target because of the prohibition, he added.
When countered why liquor vendors are striving despite prohibition, Panmei replied that there is the need to put an end to brewing of wine for the prohibition to be successfully implemented.
To another question on alleged tax collection by various Excise Post located in different parts of the State from passenger buses playing illegally, the Commissioner said although there have been some complaints, he does not know it for sure on such practice.
Three held: A combined team of Bishnupur dist commandos, II IRB and 11 GR personnel apprehended three suspected UGs from two different places under Bishnupur dist today, said sources.
The three arrested persons have been identified as Khwairakpam Sanjit Singh alias Phokir (24) s/o Ibohal of Keirenphabi Mayai Leikai, Sanasam Henthoi Singh (22) s/o Raghumani of Wangoo Sabal Makha Leikai and Wahengbam Manitomba Meitei (25) s/o Melei of Kumbi Mayai Leikai.