The illicit business of peddling liquor in Urkaliar area of the city led to a brawl recently in which three youths were stabbed, leaving them injured with one reportedly admitted to the ICU.
The area has now become known for liquor sale at night and on dry days when legal liquor shops are shut. This has caused the area to become unsafe for any passerby.
Rangbah Shnong of Urkaliar, Samborlang Diengdoh informed that after gathering information it has come to light that the first incident happened on February 18 when there was a scuffle between those selling liquor illegally and some customers.
“This led to the stabbing of the three youths, who were selling alcohol illegally, a day later,” he said.
According to Diengdoh, this incident happened on the intervening night of February 19 and 20.
The Rangbah Shnong said that after examining CCTV footages from the area it was clear that a group from outside came with the intention to harm the individuals selling alcohol illegally.
“These youths were masked and the number plates of their two wheelers were concealed and we came to the conclusion that this incident did not happen at the spur of the moment but it could have been triggered from the earlier incident,” he said.
Diengdoh informed that on February 14 he had a meeting with the East Khasi Hills district administration and among various issues the illicit sale of liquor at Urkaliar came up.
He said that on February 19 afternoon he had informed the landowners having shops in Urkaliar that he will convene a meeting with them on Saturday and the incident happened on the intervening night of February 19 and 20.
The Rangbah Shnong informed that many of the landowners are from Sohiong and rent their places to others who sell alcohol illegally at night.
Diengdoh informed that during the meeting with the landowners on he told them that from now onwards after 10 pm there should be no business activities in the area.
“We also told them that those who had rented out their spaces from March should ask them to look for other jobs. After earning for so many years they should have the revenue to start other businesses of their own,” he said.
The identity of the victims is still unknown but the district administration has taken cognisance of the incident.
