One person sustained injuries when armed miscreants opened fire at a shop located at Lamphel, Imphal under Imphal Police Station on Sunday.
The incident occurred around 8.10 pm as some unknown armed miscreants reportedly fired 2 rounds at ‘People’s Store’ located at Thangmeiband Khomdram Selungba Leikai near BRTF complex under Lamphel Police station, Imphal West.
The shop is an unlicensed liquor store where varieties of liquors are available, as per sources.
Although the state government partially lifted prohibition in the state from December last year, no licenses for liquor shops or bonded warehouses had been issued so far by the state government.
However, several unlicensed liquor licenses have cropped up in and around Imphal after the partial lifting prohibition.
In the incident, the salesman identified as one Thounaojam Pari, 33, son of Th Ibotombi Singh of Nambol Kabowakching, Bishnunpur district sustained injuries after being struck by shards of broken glass on his temple and chest of the left side.
The store is owned by one Salam Suresh, 60, son of (L) Rotonmani of Khomdram Selungba Leikai.
The injured person was rushed to RIMS hospital for further treatment. The reason behind the incident is yet to be ascertained.
A case has been registered at Lamphel Police Station for further investigation.
It may be recalled that IMF liquor and beer were seized from the same store a few years ago. Meanwhile, the state excise department on Sunday destroyed liquor worth over Rs 14 lakh which were confiscated from 13 different excise stations.
On September 20, 2022, the Manipur cabinet resolved to regulate selling and brewing of liquor in the state, on the grounds that the consumption of unregulated liquor has gone beyond control and has become the main factor leading to health issues such as liver cirrhosis and kidney failure cases in the state.
The decision to partially lift the prohibition on sale of liquor was taken up considering the health issues caused by consuming unregulated liquor apart from income generation.
According to a government spokesperson, regulating liquor will give Manipur a minimum revenue of Rs 600 crore per annum according to projections. He explained that selling liquor at military cantonment, police battalions cannot be banned despite Manipur being a dry state and many are consuming unregulated liquor leading to various health issues.
As per the cabinet decision, the sale of liquor will be confined only at some specific locations which include district headquarters, tourists’ spots, security camps, and hotels which have at least 20 bedded lodging facilities, he said adding, “no one will be allowed to carry liquor in other places without receipt.”
A gazette notification published after a year on December 6, 2023 outlined detailed rules and regulations for the legalisation of liquor.
“In exercise of the power conferred under proviso to sub-section (2) of section 1 of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991 (Manipur Act No 4 of 1991), the government of Manipur hereby withdraw the said Act from the areas of the state of Manipur,” stated the gazette notification.
After the enactment of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991, Manipur became a dry state. The prohibition was finally lifted after 30 years.
