Excise staffs plead for arms
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 23 2012:
The staffs of Manipur Excise Department which has been facing a whole lot of problems in dealing with drug peddlers in the absence of any arms have expressed desire to equip themselves with required arms and weapons.
The desire though appropriate and a long cherished one, came up close behind the decision of Nagaland government to equip its Excise Department with necessary arms.
Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao, an official of Excise Department on condition of anonymity informed that the officials of the state Excise Department have faced serious problems in their drive against use and sale of prohibited drugs and alcohol in the state.
There were even instances where the Excise staffs quarreled with the locals.
The state government does not seem to bother about the situation and is not taking up measures to resolve the matter, even on a stop gap arrangement basis.
As such the problems faced by the Excise personnel in dealing with the drug traffickers and peddlers remain unsolved for years.
The officer observed that the state government should consider providing arms and ammunitions to the Excise department just as the Nagaland government has decided to do so for its Excise department, which is to be established after almost over 49 years.
The step to prohibit use and sale of drugs was first initiated in Manipur in the North East.
Soon after, the meira paibis of some of north east states launched a movement against use and sale of drugs and the respective governments of Nagaland and Mizoram prohibited the same.
The ordinance so brought out in Nagaland will be implemented from the month of June.
The step of the Nagaland government has come about taking serious note over the threats of drug smugglers on the lives of personnel of Excise Department.