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Ban on Lali gur expires, Jorhat admin yet to take step

By Staff Correspondent

JORHAT, April 25 - The ban on sale and purchase of slush/liquid gur (Lali gur) in the district imposed by the Jorhat district administration two months ago in the aftermath of the worst-ever hooch tragedy in recent times in Assam that struck in Golaghat and Jorhat districts, has ceased to be in force.

The district administration has not reportedly renewed the prohibition imposed on sale and purchase of lali gur till today. No notification in this regard has been issued by the administration till this evening.

It may be mentioned here that on February 23 this year the Jorhat district magistrate by an order issued by under Section 144 of the CrPC, had prohibited sale and purchase of the said item for a period of 60 days from that day (February 23).

The order had stated that the ban was imposed to curb preparing of illicit liquor by unscrupulous elements by using lali gur in view of allegations of the same.

Anyone seeking to buy lali gur to be used in cattle fodder would have to take prior permission from the administration authorities or from the veterinary department, the order had stated.

It may be mentioned here that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, after the large number of hooch deaths occurred, directed the Deputy Commissioners of the districts to issue orders to ban sale of lali gur.

The Jorhat Deputy Commissioner (In-Charge) Gitanjali Dutta, when contacted by this newspaper this evening to know whether the administration has renewed the order prohibiting the sale and purchase of lali gur, said that she was not aware of the matter.

Stating that she was in a meeting, Dutta said she will later check about the status of the ban with the concerned branch of the administration.

It may be mentioned here that anyone found violating order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC, could be prosecuted under Section 188 of the IPC.

An official of the Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs department office here said that without renewal of the ban order the department could not initiate any legal action against any trader or shopkeeper if found storing and selling of lali gur.

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