Imphal, October 30: Around 400 litres of illicit liquor seized by BSF and handed over to Excise Department have been set on fire at the complex of the Excise Head office at Lamphel this afternoon.

The illicit liquor had been reportedly seized by a team led by Rajendra Singh, Dy Commander of 62 Battalion BSF posted at Laikoiching from three women who were coming in a Tata Sumo from Nongpok Sekmai at around 4.30 am today.

The driver of the Tata Sumo bearing registration no.MN06-L-0109 and three women bootleggers have also been arrested and later handed over to the officials of Excise Station, Lamlai, informed Commissioner (Excise) K Panmei while talking to reporters.

He identified the driver of the seized Tata Sumo as one Minthang Vaiphei (20) of Nichelsel Veng, Churachandpur and the three women bootleggers as Ningthoujam Mema (40) of Andro Mayengdong Leikai, Thokchom Mema (38) of Andro Bazar and Khunumayum Mema alias Kunjamala (40) of Andro Lairembam Leikai.

Though the statement of the BSF mentioned the quantity of the seized liquor as 400 litres, it turned out to be only 390 litres when the Excise officials measured it, Panmei said, adding concealed in 19 different sacks, the liquor was being taken to Imphal when the Tata Sumo was intercepted.

Officials of Lamlai Excise Station later handed over the seized liquor and the arrested persons to the officials of Excise Head office at Lamphel who in turned destroyed the seized liquor by setting it on fire at the complex of the Head office at around 3 pm today.

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