Ahead of the ensuing Assam assembly election, the state excise department has conducted series of meetings with their counter-parts from the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya to stop the flow of illegal liquor.
There is an apprehension that clandestine in-flow of illegal liquor into the state from neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya may play a role in influencing the electorate before and during assembly election.
The Assam excise department has already taken initiative to keep a strict vigil to control and check the inflow of illegal liquor through inter-state and international border into the state.
Recently on January 30, a meeting was held by the excise department of Assam in connection with inter-state/district co-ordination for enforcement of excise lodge in the office of the deputy commissioner, Tezpur, Sonitpur, between the officials of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh comprising of commissioner of excise, Assam; deputy commissioner, Sonitpur; superintendent of police, Sonitpur; deputy commissioner, West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh; superintendent of police, West Kameng and others.
Illegal liquor issue: Meetings at Tezpur, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Nongpoh
In the meeting, the commissioner of excise, Assam, initiated the discussion and apprised the officials present about the directions issued by the Election Commission of India in connection with forthcoming Assam assembly election 2021.
The issue of illegal liquor through the inter-state border specially Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border was discussed with an appeal to give special attention to these aspects.
It was decided in the meeting to ensure the reporting of the entry and exit of every vehicle carrying consignments of liquor plying between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
A similar meeting was held on February 2 in the office of deputy commissioner, Rhi-Bhoi district, Meghalaya, in which commissioner of excise, Assam; commissioner of excise, Meghalaya and other officials were present.
A meeting was also held on February 5 in Dhemaji where top officials from Assam and Arunachal Pradesh were present. On the same day, a similar meeting was also held at Dibrugarh.
Following the meetings, it was agreed that intelligence inputs and other vital information would be shared by the concerned officials on both sides of the borders, an official statement said in Guwahati on February 10.
