CADA blames state govt

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | July 30

Death rate of consuming intoxicants like alcohol and drugs is 10 percent more than the rate of encounter deaths under Armed Forces Special Power Act in the state, said president of Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA), Yumnam Ratankumar during a press conference held today at conference hall, CADA head office Pureiromba Khongnang Makhong, Konung Mamang.

Ratankumar blamed the government for the deaths on July 27 due to consuming distilled indigenous country (DIC) liquor at Oinam Sawombung, Thoubal district. He said incident happened due to freely availability of liquor though Manipur is a dry state.

Those who were involved must be punished at the earliest and compensation must be given to the victim’s family, he demanded.

The government must take a resolution in the ensuing Assembly session to strengthen Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991 in the state firmly.

Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991 was implemented in the state on April 1, 1991. Under this act no one is allowed to distil, carry or sell alcohol in any part of the state. But alcohol is freely and abundantly available so there is suspicion that high level officers and representatives of the state are involved in the liquor business.

As under Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act 1991 DIC liquor can be produced for customary and religious purpoises. By taking advantage of this relaxation they are producing liquor in huge quantity which is punishable under the act, he added.

Ratankumar said the incident which occurred on July 27 must be investigated thoroughly and the culprit must be punished.

He said there is no reason for announcing Manipur as dry state, as the state is ignoring the alcohol business. The authority concerned which is making the act ineffective must also be punished under the law.

CADA and Nupi Samaj visited the victims who were hospitalised at RIMS, Shija Hospitals and Research Institute and Raj Medicity today.

Speaking to the media persons, president of Nupi Samaj, Th. Ramani said the victims who were hospitalised at RIMS were facing a big problem as the treatment was not properly given as today being Sunday by the hospital. It is because of this reasons many victims have gone to private hospitals by paying huge amount of money.

She said no government official visited the victims though the condition of the victims is critical. Government and authority concerned must visit the victims at the earliest and appropriate help should be given by government, she demanded.

Medical department should also take proper care for the victims as most of them are from poor families. In order to stop such incident in the near future respective localities must take initiatives to stop selling and buying of alcohol and other intoxicants, she cautioned.