IMPHAL, Nov 2 (NNN): Manipur Excise department on Sunday destroyed over 51,000 litres of seized Indian Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL), beer, wine and distilled indigenous country (DIC) liquor worth more than Rs 1.21 crore.

The development comes following an order issued by the office of the Commissioner of Excise, Manipur and as part of the state government’s continued enforcement of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991, which bans the manufacture, sale and consumption of alcohol in the state.

According to an official order (No. Ex/51/DE/2018 Pt. II) issued by Hungyo Worshang, Commissioner of Excise, Manipur, on October 30, 2025, said, the seized items will be destroyed on November 2 at 11 a.m. at the Excise Headquarters complex in Lamphelpat. The confiscated liquors were seized by thirteen excise stations across various districts between January 1 and October 29, 2025, for “being transported or possessed without valid permits”.

The order stated that the total seized quantity amounts to 51,753.21 litres of excisable items, including IMFL (rum and other spirits), beer, wine and illicit country liquor. The total value of the seized items stands at Rs 1,21,09,826. The seized items were stored in the Malkhana (storage facility) located within the Excise Department’s office campus at Lamphelpat. However, the room had become congested due to the accumulation of seized articles, making it difficult to store newly seized items.

The department further stated that the Malkhana has been proposed for use in storing Excise Adhesive Labels (EAL), which are expected to arrive by the first week of November. To make space for the storage of the new EALs, the existing seized items will be disposed of as per the recommendations of the Malkhana Monitoring Committee of the Excise Department.

The decision to destroy the seized liquors has been taken in accordance with Section 66 of the Manipur Liquor Prohibition Act, 1991, which allows for the disposal of seized intoxicants. The order has also been circulated to the Chief Secretary (Finance), Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Finance), all officers of the Excise Department, the officers-in-charge of the thirteen excise stations, and the print and electronic media for public information.

Officials said the destruction of the seized liquor underscores the government’s effort to strictly enforce prohibition and combat the illegal sale and distribution of alcohol in the state. The move also comes at a time when debates continue over the state’s partial relaxation of prohibition for revenue and regulatory purposes.