The Manipur Excise department has declared ‘Dry Day’ on polling days and on counting day of the ensuing Lok Sabha election.
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Manipur will go to polls in two phases on April 11 (for Outer Manipur (ST) Parliamentary constituency and April 18 (for the Inner Manipur Parliamentary constituency).
The counting of votes will be conducted on May 23.
The State Excise department through a notification stated that these three days as ‘Dry Day’ in the whole of the State. The declaration was made in pursuance of the Section 135C of the Representation of People Act, 1951 and in exercise the power conferred under section 17(3) of Eastern Bengal Assam Excise Act 1910 which is extended in state of Manipur.
The days are declared ‘Dry Day’ even as despite the enforcement of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991 and Manipur Liquor Prohibition Rule 1994, prohibiting sale of Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), beer, and distilled illicit country liquor across the State. A source in the state Excise department disclosed that despite the prohibition sale of this prohibited items by unauthorised individuals, vendors is rampant in the state.
The Excise department further declared total ban on selling, giving or distribution of spirituous, fermented or intoxicating liquor or other substances of like nature at the hotel, eating house, tavern, shop or any other place, public or private, within a polling area during the period of 48 ending the hour fixed for the conclusion of poll for election in the polling areas. All the liquor license holders including exempted categories are also covered by the ban, it added.
Keeping this in mind, the department had already taken up an intensified drive to check flow of liquor in the state well ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha elections. The department has also sought the help and cooperation of the district administrations and police in checking the flow of liquor into the state.
The step has been taken up to ensure smooth conduct of free, fair and peaceful election and considering the urgent need to monitor production, storage and distribution of liquor during the election. The Excise department is also conducting intensive vigil over the inter-state movement of vehicles at excise check posts and border check posts by the enforcement team of the excise, according to sources.