KALAIGAON, April 19 - Trade of spurious liquor and drugs has been thriving along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Udalguri district, posing serious threat to law and order in the district. The problem has increased manifold after the opening of new road connecting towns in Arunachal towns with Guwahati via Mangaldai, Kalaigaon, Udalguri, Kalaktang, Rupa to Itanagar or Tawang.
The new route has become very popular among the people of Arunachal as it has reduced journey time and distance drastically.
Taking advantage of this new route, antisocial elements of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have resorted to increased trading of adulterated liquor and drugs.
At present various types of adulterated liquor are sold all over Assam, causing huge revenue loss to the State exchequer.
The role of the Excise Department has not been satisfactory at all so far. It is alleged that the excise officials earn huge commission from these vendors or suppliers.
On April 14, the Udalguri police seized a truck (AS 25-AC 9489) carrying empty LPG cylinders, at Lalpani in the Assam area. The truck was coming from Kalaktang of Arunachal Pradesh. Police also recovered 75 kg of cannabis from the truck.
Four youths from Udalguri district, identified as Ripon Baglari (26), Biru Boro (18), Ronsai Goyari (26) and Arbind Daimari (24), were apprehended in this connection. The involvement of local youths in the illegal trade has raised serious concern among senior citizens of the district.
