Ahead the ensuing State Assembly Election, the Assam Excise Department has conducted series of meetings with their counter-parts from the neighbouring states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya.
There is an apprehension that clandestine in-flow of liquor into the state from neighbouring states like Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya may play a role in influencing the electorate before and during assembly election.
The Assam Excise Department has already taken initiative to keep a strict vigil to control and check the inflow of illegal liquor through Inter-State and International Border into the state of Assam.
Recently on January 30, 2021, a meeting was held by the Excise Department of Assam in connection with inter-state/district co-ordination for enforcement of excise lodge in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Tezpur, Sonitpur between the officials of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh comprising of Commissioner of Excise, Assam, Deputy Commissioner, Sonitpur, Superintendent of Police, Sonitpur, Deputy Commissioner West Kameng, Assam, Superintendent of Police West Kameng and others took part.
In the meeting, the Commissioner of Excise, Assam initiated the discussion and apprised the officials present about the directions issued by the Election Commission of India in connection with forthcoming Assam Assembly Election 2021. The issue of illegal liquor through the inter-state border specially Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border was discussed with an appeal to give special attention to these aspects. It was decided in the meeting to ensure the reporting of the entry and exit of every vehicle carrying consignments of liquor plying between Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
A similar meeting was held on February 2, 2021, in the office of Deputy Commissioner, Rhi-Bhoi District, Nongpoh, Meghalaya, in which Commissioner of Excise, Assam, Commissioner of Excise, Meghalaya, Deputy Commissioner Rhi-Bhoi district, Superintendent of Police Rhi-Bhoi district and other officials.
A meeting was held on February 5, 2021 in Dhemaji in which Commissioner of Excise, Assam, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Dhemaji, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Lakhimpur, Deputy Commissioner Papumpare, Arunachal Pradesh, Superintendent of Police Capital Complex, Arunachal Pradesh, other officials of both state were present.
On the same day, another meeting was held in the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Dibrugarh in which Commissioner of Excise, Assam, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Dibrugarh, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Sivasagar, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Charaideo, Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police Tinsukia, officials from Arunachal Pradesh and other officials were present.
Following the meetings, it was agreed that intelligence inputs and other vital information would be shared by the concerned officials on both sides of the borders.