Come elections, the flow of illegal Sikkim liquor increases in Kalimpong

YOWAN MOTHAY, EOI, KALIMPONG, MARCH 8, 2024 : The illegal inflow of liquor from Sikkim to Kalimpong has become an issue of concern. 

The Kalimpong District Excise Department has been active in recent months to control the illegal entry of liquor. 

A number of such liquor consignments have been seized. Kalimpong Superintendent of Excise Pravin Thapa told reporters on Friday that while the Kalimpong Excise had been detecting the illegal entry of Sikkim liquor since the early days, currently the raids had been intensified in view of the ensuing LokSabha elections. 

On Thursday, a person was arrested with 122 cartons of illegal Sikkim liquor at 11 Mile while the vehicle carrying the consignment was entering Kalimpong. 

The seizure was valued at nearly Rs 20 lakh. The vehicle was seized. On Tuesday, the Excise Department seized 72 cartons of illegal Sikkim liquor at Chitre, Kalimpong.

The value of the seizure exceeded Rs 8 lakh. The Ramphu – Mongsong route and the Jorethang – Singla routes are being used more by the carriers of illegal liquor from Sikkim. 

Pravin Thapa said the consumption in Kalimpong of liquor bottled in Sikkim without the payment of proper levy not only caused loss in excise duty for West Bengal but also could have adverse health implications as some of the liquor bottled in Sikkim was spurious. He urged people to buy alcohol only from licenced liquor shops.