The illegal sale of liquor in black at Polo market, Lawmali Pyllun is seeing a drastic reduction following the recent raid conducted by the police.
During the raid conducted on October 28 last, the police arrested five persons identified as Linda Nongbri, Pasang Lama, Biljina Khongsit, Barisha Thabah and Cristina Blah.
The police also seized a total amount of 14.20 litre of IMFL and another 50 litre of illicit liquor from their possession.
After the raid, it has been observed that those who were involved in this illegal sale of liquor have decided to abandon their business for some time especially associates and those who were arrested.
However, there are selected few who are still operating.
According to sources, these people are illegally selling liquor in a hush hush manner since they no longer dare to carry out their illegal business in the open.
It has also been observed that those women who are still operating this illegal sale of liquor would stand on various important points of Polo Market. Sources also informed that they would sell the liquor only if customers ask from them which was not the case in the past.
Earlier, these women would force each and every pedestrian to purchase liquor and would not even spare those individuals who were returning back from their church service during Sunday’s.
The behaviour of such women had led to a situation where people, especially women folk had to think twice before passing through the road especially during the night time. It is learnt that a majority of these women who are illegally selling liquor in the market hailed from Sohiong area.
The Lawmali Pyllun Dorbar Shnong on numerous occasions had earlier tried to stop this illegal sale of liquor in the past since Polo Market in under their jurisdiction. The recent developments are definitely a breather.
“We are happy to see the police taking some kind action on the people who are involved in the racket. We hope the situation improves further in the coming months,” a resident of Lawmali Pyllun A Lyngdoh told The Shillong Times on Monday.
While appealing the police to continue with this surprise raid at Polo Market, Lyngdoh said that they would like to see a situation where the illegal sale of liquor from Polo market is totally wiped out.
A resident of Lawmali Pyllun David Nongrum (name changed on request) lauded the police for taking steps to take necessary action against those involved in the illegal sale of liquor.
“We would the police to conduct similar raids in various areas of the city where there is illegal sale of liquor. The police are very much about the places where liquor is being sold in black,” Nongrum said.
When contacted, a senior police official assured that the police would continue with this kind of raid in various parts of the city. “The police would not allow such illegal sale of liquor to continue in the city,” a senior police official added.
(By Lamphrang
Nongspung)