Investigation on liquor bottling plant case progressing: Police

Morung Express News
Dimapur | September 14

Almost two weeks since the discovery of a reportedly abandoned liquor bottling plant in Dimapur, the police have informed that investigation was on. 

On September 2, the Assam Rifles discovered the illicit plant in a private property at 7th Mile. The plant was suspected to have been used for bottling liquor. One person, said to be its caretaker, was apprehended and the case was handed over to the police for further investigation. 

Since then, there has been no official update from the police as to the progress made in the investigation. On September 14, the police said that “some good leads” have been made in the case but declined to divulge details, citing it was premature to comment as the investigation was ongoing.

“We cannot reveal the investigation findings now. It is a developing process. It is premature to tell (at this stage),” said a police official, while adding, “We have to first confirm everything.” 

It was though added that the Dimapur police will be issuing an official statement with regard to the case within a few days. 

Meanwhile, other sources informed that one person, said to be the proprietor of the property where the plant was located, had applied for anticipatory bail about a week back. The police declined to comment on this reported development.  

While not revealed in the official press release issued by the Assam Rifles on September 2, the sources said that the AR discovered it while it was trailing a shipment of suspected smuggled timber (teak) from Myanmar. 

As reported earlier, the Assam Rifles’ press release stated that a total of 98 ‘Burma Teak,’ 107 cases of rum alongwith packaging materials were confiscated from the alleged bottling plant. 

The case relating to the suspected smuggled timber was handed over to the Anti Smuggling Unit of the Customs Prevention Division, Dimapur. The liquor case was forwarded to the Dimapur police.