As Nagaland remains sharply divided over the future of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, 1989, a series of IMFL seizures and arrests in Mokokchung recently has once again pushed the debate into the public eye – not only because of the volume of liquor intercepted, but due to the deep and growing public distrust surrounding the enforcement of the Act.
In Nagaland, each new police announcement of an IMFL seizure is increasingly met with travesty rather than approval. Social media comments and conversations across the State show a pattern: many residents simply laugh off, suggesting that the seized liquor will “only end up being consumed by the police,” while others criticize the Act as a “policy that kills local economy but does nothing else.”
Instead of condemning the accused, the public often expresses sympathy for them widely believing that those caught are usually the ones without influence or connections.
Despite the periodic arrests, liquor remains easily available at black-market alcohol stores, with residents noting that “everyone knows where to buy.” This persistent availability undermines every enforcement announcement, strengthening the perception that prohibition has failed at a structural level.
Compounding this distrust are widespread public allegations expressed through community discussions and public forums that individuals without strong connections are targeted, while others with influence or links are often released after paying small sums of money or allegedly offering a share of the consignment. While these allegations remain unproven, the fact that they form part of the dominant public perception indicates a serious collapse of faith in the NLTP enforcement system.
Two arrested with large consignment near Kinunger
According to Mokokchung Police, a team led by the Additional Superintendent of Police intercepted a Tata Yodha pickup (AS-02/DC-0436) at around 9:30 pm on November 28, acting on “specific information” of illegal liquor transport.
Police seized: 6,240 bottles of MC Rum (180 ml); 840 bottles of MC Rum (375 ml); and 1,104 cans of Kingfisher Beer.
Two individuals were arrested: Arup Payeng (22) of Jorhat district, Assam and Imkongnichet (31) of Chungtia village, Mokokchung. A complaint has been filed under Section 44(e) of the NLTP Act.
Two more detained in Tuli operations
Routine checks in Tuli led to two separate seizures. From Temsutoshi of Asangma village, police recovered: 16 cases of MC Rum (750 ml), 12 cases of MC Rum (375 ml) and 15 cases of cane beer.
In another operation, police seized from Shiludi (45) of Yaongyimsen: 11 cases and 20 pieces of cane beer; 5 cases of MC Rum (375 ml); 5 cases and 47 bottles of MC Rum (180 ml); and 36 bottles of Royal Stag (180 ml)
700 cases destroyed – but questions persist
On December 3, around 700 cases of assorted IMFL confiscated over multiple months were destroyed at the office premises of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mokokchung. The destruction took place in the presence of the SDPO (Chairman), APP, SDO (Civil), DPRO, PI, and representatives from Ao Senden and Watsü Mungdang.
But with liquor still being sold freely across the district within hours of each seizure, many residents question whether destruction ceremonies and arrest notices are symbolic events rather than effective deterrents.
Though the police routinely release information about arrests and seizures, existing public data on NLTP cases shows recurring patterns: small-time carriers are caught repeatedly, while supply routes remain active, and organized networks remain unaddressed. The disconnect between enforcement reports and everyday reality – where alcohol is readily accessible – fuels speculation that the Act punishes the powerless while leaving the ecosystem intact.
The latest Mokokchung seizures, though significant in volume, have only reinforced the core argument emerging in public discourse: that prohibition, as currently enforced, lacks public trust. While the government, church and civil society deliberate on the future of the NLTP Act, the sentiment on the ground is clear – without transparency, accountability, and structural reform, enforcement actions will continue to be met with disbelief, suspicion and even ridicule.
With liquor continuing to flow in and black-market stores operating openly, the growing question is whether the NLTP Act has become less a tool of regulation and more a symbol of a system the public no longer believes in.