Dimapur | September 27 : Guardian of the highly debatable NLTP Act - the department of Excise is all set for a major overhaul, if a proposal in this regard gets the nod from the government of Nagaland. The two main objective of the ambitious plan are - arming the department with modern weaponry and increasing its manpower by nearly three-folds. Newly instated State Commissioner of Excise, Maongwati Aier made the disclosure on Tuesday, September 28.
Unlike neighbouring Assam, Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh, where ‘liquor ban’ law is not imposed, Nagaland’s Excise personnel is not permitted to carry defensive firearms. The current strength of the department in terms of manpower stands at a meager 406 field personnel for the entire state.
Aier disclosed that a project report has already been put up and is awaiting response of the government. It was submitted only this month. The response from the side of the government has been “very optimistic”, added Aier.
Recounting some of the encounters, the department personnel had with armed smugglers in the past, Aier said: “The department personnel are performing their duties under great stress and danger to their lives”. He mentioned one incident at Pfutsuro police check-post back in 1982, when unarmed Excise men were fired upon by drug smugglers. As late as 2003, Excise personnel at one particular incident on the outskirts of Dimapur were held back by armed drug traffickers.
There have been many other instances, even to the point of being helplessly surrounded by smugglers and bootleggers alike, who are usually armed with automatic weapons. Despite, the rate of detection has been remarkable, he said.
“Drug dealers and bootleggers are highly modernized, we also need to modernize the Excise department.” The estimated requirement of weapons (small firearms) for the respective Excise branches in the districts is around 43.
Three districts – Peren, Longleng and Kiphire are without Excise posts till now. A proposal to set up Excise branches in the three districts has been put up.
Aier further said that he had a meeting with his Assam counterpart in the month of August. There he brought to the notice of the Assam Excise chief the mushrooming of liquor stores in Lahorijan in stark contrast to its population of hardly 3000. According to the present count, Lahorijan has more than 40 liquor stores. “Lahorijan should not have these many stores.” Aier said his counterpart was sceptical about the many liquor licences issued in Lahorijan while remarking that the actual number according to the records is much less than that.
The meeting also deliberated the possibility of pushing further inside Karbi Anglong the many liquor outlets along the border with Dimapur and Lahorijan. The stores should be atleast 8 kilometres away from the border with Dimapur, he said. Bootlegging of spurious liquor from Lahorijan and Khatkhati is another area of concern. Aier said that the Assam Excise Commissioner assured to seriously look into the matter.
On the re-setting up of Excise check posts at New Field and Chumukedima check posts, Aier stated that the move is showing results. “If you’re strong at the gates, then the liquor joints (here) will slowly dry up.”
Unlike neighbouring Assam, Manipur or Arunachal Pradesh, where ‘liquor ban’ law is not imposed, Nagaland’s Excise personnel is not permitted to carry defensive firearms. The current strength of the department in terms of manpower stands at a meager 406 field personnel for the entire state.
Aier disclosed that a project report has already been put up and is awaiting response of the government. It was submitted only this month. The response from the side of the government has been “very optimistic”, added Aier.
Recounting some of the encounters, the department personnel had with armed smugglers in the past, Aier said: “The department personnel are performing their duties under great stress and danger to their lives”. He mentioned one incident at Pfutsuro police check-post back in 1982, when unarmed Excise men were fired upon by drug smugglers. As late as 2003, Excise personnel at one particular incident on the outskirts of Dimapur were held back by armed drug traffickers.
There have been many other instances, even to the point of being helplessly surrounded by smugglers and bootleggers alike, who are usually armed with automatic weapons. Despite, the rate of detection has been remarkable, he said.
“Drug dealers and bootleggers are highly modernized, we also need to modernize the Excise department.” The estimated requirement of weapons (small firearms) for the respective Excise branches in the districts is around 43.
Three districts – Peren, Longleng and Kiphire are without Excise posts till now. A proposal to set up Excise branches in the three districts has been put up.
Aier further said that he had a meeting with his Assam counterpart in the month of August. There he brought to the notice of the Assam Excise chief the mushrooming of liquor stores in Lahorijan in stark contrast to its population of hardly 3000. According to the present count, Lahorijan has more than 40 liquor stores. “Lahorijan should not have these many stores.” Aier said his counterpart was sceptical about the many liquor licences issued in Lahorijan while remarking that the actual number according to the records is much less than that.
The meeting also deliberated the possibility of pushing further inside Karbi Anglong the many liquor outlets along the border with Dimapur and Lahorijan. The stores should be atleast 8 kilometres away from the border with Dimapur, he said. Bootlegging of spurious liquor from Lahorijan and Khatkhati is another area of concern. Aier said that the Assam Excise Commissioner assured to seriously look into the matter.
On the re-setting up of Excise check posts at New Field and Chumukedima check posts, Aier stated that the move is showing results. “If you’re strong at the gates, then the liquor joints (here) will slowly dry up.”
Excise revenue showing positive increase
Revenue generated by the department has doubled since August, this year. Monetary fine imposed on defaulters by the Superintendent of Excise and Prohibition, Dimapur for the month of August was Rs. 50, 000. It has doubled to Rs. 1, 04, 000 in September. According to department records, it was hardly Rs. 15-20, 000 per month, Aier disclosed. At this rate it is expected to double.
The annual revenue generated by the department in the preceding years was said to be around Rs. 3 crore. Much it came from the duty levied on sale of IMFL through military and para-military CSDs. The state is said to be getting around Rs. 30 lakh per month through this route.
“Our department has to be disciplined, honest… it is not the numbers that counts but it’s the attitude (of the personnel).”
The annual revenue generated by the department in the preceding years was said to be around Rs. 3 crore. Much it came from the duty levied on sale of IMFL through military and para-military CSDs. The state is said to be getting around Rs. 30 lakh per month through this route.
“Our department has to be disciplined, honest… it is not the numbers that counts but it’s the attitude (of the personnel).”
