Photo Courtesy: nenow
Shillong: The A·Chik State Peoples Front (ASPF) wants Momin Biri off the shelves in the Garo Hills. They filed a memorandum with the Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills to demand a ban and the immediate seizure of all stock. The group wants the cancellation of GHADC Trading Licence No. 34476, held by Alom Hussain of Sakmal, Rajabala.
This is a legal mess. Two parties claim the Momin Biri trademark: Amit Karmakar of West Bengal and Ashikul Momin Khandakar of Assam. Both trademark applications, numbers 5511063 and 5448780, remain listed as opposed since 2022. The ASPF argues that using the name Momin, a recognized Garo clan, misleads the public and violates the Meghalaya Trading by Non-Tribals Regulation of 1959.
The violations run deep. The ASPF points to the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), noting that packets lack the required 85 percent pictorial health warnings. They also flagged the use of an obsolete RC number alongside a current GSTIN, which violates the Legal Metrology Rules. The organization claims the packets lack essential data like weight, date, and MRP. Regarding the branding, the ASPF stated, "printing COPY RIGHT and BEWARE FROM IMITATION on the packaging without registration amounted to a false trade description."
Child safety is a major concern. The ASPF alleges that the tobacco company used a minor child's photo on the packaging to lure young buyers. This, they claim, violates the Juvenile Justice Act and the Child Labour Prohibition Act. The group previously stopped a similar product called Marak Biri from entering the market by using the name of another Garo clan. They now demand action against Momin Biri for these alleged breaches of consumer and child protection laws.
Updated at 1st October 2026 at 9:52pm
The pressure on authorities is mounting. The ASPF specifically flagged GHADC Trading Licence No. 34476 as having been issued on September 24, 2024. They claim that Ashikul Momin Khandakar, one of the two parties in the trademark dispute, previously held a licence that authorities have already cancelled, effectively shuttering his operations.
The group is now swinging for a wider prohibition. They have demanded that the district block any new tobacco licences that use Garo clan surnames like Momin, Marak, or Sangma. Their complaint now invokes specific legal frameworks, including the Consumer Protection Act of 2019 and NCPCR guidelines, arguing that the packet imagery constitutes an illegal, indirect advertisement to minors.
The ASPF has also looped in the District Child Protection Officer, police, and the GHADC Chief Executive Member, pushing for a broader crackdown on what they characterize as the commercial exploitation of tribal identity. They maintain that the product packaging serves as primary evidence of these systematic regulatory failures.
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