By Ibankyntiew Mawrie
SHILLONG: Repeated raids conducted by the East Khasi Hills police from time to time clearly indicate that the district especially the state’s capital is witnessing a big market of illicit liquor where the bootlegging business runs high.
From January to April this year as many as 46 liquor raids were conducted by the District Police through their respective police stations and outposts in various localities of Shillong and other parts of the district including Sohra, Mawngap, Pynursla etc.
In this connection, as many as 24 persons were arrested and Non-FIR cases have been filed against them. The liquor seized was destroyed on the spot while some was forwarded to the Commissioner of Excise and to the Court.
Interestingly, those engaged in this business are mostly women. But this is not surprising as socio-economic mobility of women in matrilineal Meghalaya is well known. Data received from the police states that of the total number of persons arrested during the raids 14 are women while 10 are males.
According to the statistics provided by the police, the highest number of raids was conducted in January where as many as 21 cases were detected followed by 17 cases in February, 3 cases in March and 5 cases in April.
Police informed that illicit liquor was seized mainly from bars, restaurants and stalls in the city and its suburbs. Altogether almost about 1,70,395.6 litres of country made illicit liquor, IMFL-3,91,195.3ml, and illicit liquor-50,242 ml were seized.
From January till April, 5 raids were conducted and detected by the Madanrting PS, 17 cases by Laitumkhrah PS, 1 each by Pynursla, Mawsynram, Mawngap OP, Bholaganj OP, Rynjah and Sohra PS, 8 raids conducted and detected by Lumdiengjri PS, 3 cases by Sadar PS and Sohiong OP under Laban PS and 2 raids were conducted by Cantonment Beat House.
Raids conducted under Madanrting PS included Mawjatap village, Smit area, Assam Bazar area and Madanrting; under Laitumkhrah PS-Friends Restaurant in Laitumkhrah, Laitumkhrah Bazar and Laitumkhrah area; under Pynursla PS-Nongkynrih Madan Lyngdoh village; Sohra PS-Nongrim Sohra; under Lumdiengjri PS-Motphran, Paltan Bazar and Bara Bazar, Jeep Stand area; under Mawsynram PS-Lawbah and Mawlyngbna; under Laban PS-Sohiong area (Sohiong OP), Stream Side road in Bishnupur and Upper Bishnupur; under Mawngap OP-Nongwah and Rwapna; under Pamsanngut Sirdarship, under Bholaganj OP-Nayabasti; under Sadar PS-Keating road junction, GS Road near Fire Brigade and Ambassador restaurant, under Cantonment Beat House-Bara Bazar area (Mawlonghat) and under Rynjah PS (Nongmynsong OP) and Demseiniong area.
Concerned over this rising business in the district, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang told The Shillong Times that the market for illicit liquor is very lucrative.
“We are trying our best to curb this but since there are many commitments, it is not possible to give full attention to this.”
When asked why so many women are in the business, Kharkrang brushed aside the notion that the absence of any alternative livelihood for women forced them to join this business. “The reason why women join this business is not because they have no other job but it is because it yields good returns very quickly.”
He maintained that bootlegging is thriving in the state and the city in particular because Shillong is the hub for people from every walk of life and since many people cannot afford IMFL and go for cheap liquor.
“Everybody has the right to work and make a living but doing so at the expense of someone else’s health and life is wrong,” Kharkrang said.
Commenting on the conviction rate, the SP said that a Non-FIR case is filed against them in the court. “If the same person is convicted twice or thrice for the same offence, stringent action is taken against such persons,” he added.
He informed that fine is also imposed on the arrested persons by the court. The money is later deposited in the state revenue department.
It may be mentioned that a non-FIR case is a case filed without any formal complaint but the sections therein empowers the police to take actions to bring up a case and forward the same to the court.