Six from Assam, one from Manipur arrested in illegal liquor bust

Imphal: Manipur Police, intensifying their crackdown on the manufacturing and sale of distilled illicit country (DIC) liquor and Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), arrested seven individuals, six from Assam and one from Manipur, who were allegedly running illegal vending operations.

The arrests and seizures were made following a tip-off at Phayeng Bazar in Imphal West district on Friday, the police morning bulletin reported on Saturday.

According to the report, the arrested individuals have been identified as Chingakham Bihari of Kadamtala, Dibong, Jiribam district (Manipur); Madhav Lahon of Borbali Gaon, Dibrugarh (Assam); Chandan Lahon of Barbeel, Dibrugarh (Assam); Bimal Neog of Gelua, Dhemaji (Assam); Buddheswar Neog of Dibrugarh (Assam); Hemanta Neog of Dhemaji (Assam); and Tilak Neog of Geluba, Dhemaji (Assam).

Items seized from their possession include multiple 200-litre steel drums filled with alcohol-like liquid, bottling machines and related equipment, pressure gauges, plastic drums containing alcohol-scented liquid, empty barrels, empty bottles without labels, label stickers printed with “McDowell,” large bundles of small carton boxes printed with “Iconiq” and “McDowell,” various chemicals, a large packet of bottle covers printed with “McDowell,” and a red mini-truck used to transport the items.

The police report added that all seven individuals were handed over to the concerned police station for necessary legal action under the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991.