Manipur Women Take Up The Cudgels Against Drug, Alcohol Abuse Among Youths

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Imphal, Jun 14 : Concerned over burgeoning drug abuse, alcoholism and consumption of other intoxicating substances by youths, women vigilantes have taken up the cudgels once again by taking out kerosene torchlight demonstrations at night to create public awareness.

The fresh campaign was propelled by a recent seizure of intoxicating Ephedrine tablets worth over Rs. 350 crore by the Delhi Police and the Narcotics Control Bureau in Imphal. These were being transported to Myanmar for onward journey to China.

Local sources said these tablets are made more intoxicating and addictive, and then sent back to India at three times the price of Ephedrine tablets available in the country.

The women prohibitionists in Manipur have in the past launched anti-liquor campaigns throughout the State. They have conducted night patrols, raided illegal drinking joints and fined persons found under the influence of liquor.

The insurgents of the Revolutionary People's Front had closed down all foreign liquor shops and bonded warehouses from January 1, 1995.

“A dry State”

Left with no alternative, the State Government declared Manipur a dry State. However, the only difference seen now is that prices of country liquor and “Indian-made foreign liquor” have become higher. But people continue to get all brands of liquor everywhere. Some years after this crackdown, illegal drinking joints mushroomed. For the first time, costly Indian-made foreign liquor is also being served in these joints. The prohibitionists are unhappy with the kind of patronage and the protection these bootleggers get from Government circles. On the other hand, an alarming number of youths have been afflicted by physical and mental diseases as a result of drug and liquor abuse. Besides, there are increasing reports of premature deaths of several alcoholics and drug abusers.

Assam and Meghalaya are not dry States and reports say truckloads of Indian-made foreign liquor bottles are brought to Manipur almost daily. Volunteers of the All Manipur Anti-Drug Association and the Coalition Against Drug Abuse have been rounding up drug sellers, bootleggers and seizing contraband items that are periodically incinerated at public places.

The prohibitionists say they will intensify their campaign. They had given up the campaign in the past and directed their attention towards alleged excesses of security forces after deployment of Central forces from November 1980 after Manipur was declared a disturbed area.