Sivasagar bans storage & sale of molasses to curb spurious liquor production

Dibrugarh: In a move to prevent the production and sale of spurious country liquor locally known as ‘sulai,’ Sivasagar district magistrate Mridul Yadav on Saturday imposed a complete ban on the storage and sale of degenerated molasses, commonly known as ‘lalee Gur’ across the district with immediate effect.The prohibitory order, issued under Section 163 of BNSS 2023, will remain in force for 60 days. The order comes in response to growing concerns that the cattle feed ingredient is being widely misused for brewing illegal and potentially deadly country liquor.“It has been made to appear to me that the sale of degenerated molasses (gur), generally called ‘lalee,’ which is to be used only for cattle feed, is being widely used to prepare country liquor at certain places in this district, leading to sale of spurious liquor affecting public health,” Yadav stated in the order.The DM stressed that urgent preventive measures were necessary as the sale of such spurious liquors could lead to widespread disturbance of public health, peace, and tranquility in the district.Under the new order, any person wishing to purchase degenerated molasses strictly for cattle feed must obtain prior permission from the district magistrate, additional district magistrate, or the veterinary department of Sivasagar.

Violation of this order will attract punishment under Section 223 of BNS.The ban follows a pattern of aggressive enforcement against illegal liquor operations in Sivasagar district. Recently Sivasagar police conducted extensive raids across the district, dismantling 24 illicit country liquor dens and seizing over 4,000 litres of ‘sulai’ — a locally brewed rectified spirit — along with manufacturing equipment and hundreds of kilograms of ‘lalee gur’ used in the fermentation process.The current ban on molasses represents an administrative attempt to choke off the supply chain of illegal liquor production at its source, complementing police enforcement efforts.Illicit country liquor, particularly Sulai brewed from fermented molasses, poses severe public health risks. Illegal brewers frequently adulterate the spirit with toxic substances, including methanol, which can cause blindness, organ failure, and death even in minimal quantities.The tragic 2019 Assam hooch tragedy, which claimed at least 158 lives—primarily tea garden labourers in neighbouring Jorhat and Golaghat districts—demonstrated the deadly consequences of contaminated Sulai. Investigations revealed that victims had consumed liquor laced with methanol, liquid jaggery, and even dry cell batteries.The affordability of illicit Sulai compared to licensed alcohol makes it especially attractive to daily wage earners and tea garden labourers, despite potentially fatal health risks. The new ban aims to protect these economically vulnerable populations from unscrupulous bootleggers who prey on their limited financial resources.The ex-parte order was passed considering the exigencies of the situation and the immediate threat to public health and safety in the district.