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Problems connected with the control of the sale of alcohol at Dimapur; illicit distilling by Nepalis |
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Visited the liquor shop. This shop has become a farce. Illicit distilling is being carried on on a large scale just over the Sibsagar district boundary 1-and-a-half miles away in the Mikir Hill Tracts by a Nepali, who gets an old woman (also Nepali) down from Dimapur to help him each weekend, when his consumption probably goes up owing to Mistris and coolies off work. He has taken away all the custom from the local excise shop and buys quantities of rice and Molasses in Dimapur weekly. On conviction the other day he was fined Rs. 50/- - a miserable effort by the Magistrate, whoever he was, who heard the case. His monthly profits cannot be less than that and he is going on brewing just the same. He ought to have been given a fine of about Rs. 500/- and six months rigorous imprisonment and ought still to be turned out of the Mikir Hill Tracts as he has been from the Naga Hills. He is a most undesirable resident for any Hill area. There are other Nepalis distilling locally - an endeavour will be made to catch and prosecute them, but it will do little good as long as the principal offender is allowed to go on with his unlicensed shop. |
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Bokajan the next station up the line from Manipur Road is another favourite resort of Naga Hills undesirables. There is a professional shikari there who used to make his living by poaching in the close season till ejected from this district, and the Nepalis there probably to a good deal of distilling as well. The Dak Bungalow Roof leaks in several places and the middle of the south room is not usable in heavy rain. |
