Members of the Laipham Khunou Apunba Meira Lup (LKAML), a local women organisation, seized and disposed of approximately 150 litres of locally brewed liquor from a food joint at Sangakpham Bazar, Imphal East late Tuesday.
The owner of the food joint, identified as one Luxmi, was apprehended along with the confiscated liquor.
The LKAML, however, decided to release Luxmi after issuing a stern warning, emphasising that she should refrain from engaging in the liquor business in the future.
Expressing her concern, LKAML secretary Elangbam Sobita addressed the media, stating that it was unfortunate for the food joint to continue selling liquor for profit during the ongoing unrest.
The people of Manipur are already suffering and Meira Paibis (women torchbearers) are vigilantly guarding their localities to prevent any untoward incidents, Sobita said.
Meira Pabis has previously wanred the food joint to stop selling illicit liquor but the owner disregarded the warning, Sobita said.
Emphasising the importance of protecting both the state's integrity and the youth from substance abuse, she stressed the need to halt the sale and consumption of illicit liquor.
In a separate incident, the Tamenglong district police confiscated a truckload of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (16,000 bottles) from the Barak Bridge area on the night of June 24.
On Tuesday, the confiscated liquor was destroyed with the permission from the district executive magistrate.
The disposal took place in the presence of various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, villagers, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the 5th Manipur Rifles (5MR), and the magistrate.
The confiscation and disposal of these illicit liquor stocks by both the LKAML and the Tamenglong district police demonstrate the ongoing efforts to curb the sale and consumption of illegal alcohol in Manipur, while safeguarding public well-being and maintaining social order.
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