Photo Courtesy: morungexpress
Kohima: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council has praised youth volunteers for intercepting a truck carrying Indian Made Foreign Liquor near Jotsoma. In a statement released on June 5, the council expressed support for the Angami Youth Organisation, Jotsoma Youth Organisation, and Tsiepama Youth Organisation, whose members risked their personal safety to address the illegal activity.
The council demanded a swift and transparent investigation into reports suggesting a connection between liquor smugglers and certain law enforcement personnel. Regarding these allegations, the organization stated that such a nexus would be “not only a breach of law but also a betrayal of public trust.” The church body emphasized that corruption undermines the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition Act and harms vulnerable members of society.
To prevent future incidents, the council urged the state government, police, and the Excise Department to tighten oversight and address gaps in checkpoint procedures. It described the current state of the Excise Department as “toothless” and called for more frequent raids in Kohima. The council further stressed the need for protecting whistleblowers and youth volunteers from potential retaliation.
While the church remains committed to the prohibition law, it acknowledged that many officers serve with integrity. The council appealed to these personnel to identify and remove corrupt elements within their departments. It concluded by urging political and public leaders to ensure that justice is applied equally, noting that the incident serves as a call for greater transparency and righteousness in public life.
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