How 'banned' liquor flows freely in poll bound Nagaland

Kohima, Feb 12: In poll bound

is flowing freely. Candidates are distributing liquor among the voters. However, the irony is that Nagaland is a dry state. But, illegal flow of liquor from neighbouring state of Assam is a well-known fact. Moreover, Nagas love alcohol. Taking advantage of it,

are giving free access to liquor to the voters, again against Election Commission's mandate.

Nagaland Assembly Elections 2013 is slated for Feb 23.

But vigilante groups are trying to arrest the trend. Pfutsero Town Mothers' Association and Chakhesang Youth Front along with the churches have started a campaign against liquor supply.

The Pfutsero Town Mothers' Association has also set up a surveillance group to check liquor supply. "With the setting up of surveillance group, all the vehicles passing through Pfütsero town would be subjected to frisking accordingly," says a press release issued by the association.

The liquor surveillance group has been jointly set up by the Pfütsero Town Mothers' Association, Pfütsero Town Chakhesang Students' Union and the Pfütsero Town Youth Forum.

However, those contesting elections have a different take on providing liquor to their voters and workers.

"At times you need to keep your workers going on with added incentives. Drinking is very much a part of the tradition not just in Nagaland, but the entire Northeast," said an aspiring MLA, who didn't wish to be named.

Government authorities are on an alert to curb the menace of smuggling of liquor from Assam to Nagaland.

Recently, the Dimapur district administration with the help of police destroyed huge quantity of assorted IMFL seized on January 26.

Nagaland was declared a "dry State" besides the introduction of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act 1989. However, sale of liquor is not very uncommon in the state.

OneIndia News