Aizawl,13 Jan (PTI): In the first such protest against opening of wine shops, a mob damaged a newly opened wine shop in Bawngkawn locality here last night and smashed all the liquor bottles on National Highway 54, police said.
Though policemen tried to control the mob, the former were outnumbered by the mob and failed to prevent destruction of the wine shop, the police said. Leaders of the Bawngkawn locality had objected to the opening of the wine shop in the area and their appeals to the owner of the wine shop fell on deaf years.
Though there had been protests in several areas against opening of wine shops in their respective areas, last night’s incidence was the first such protest. The Mizoram Liquor Prohibition and Control Act, 2014 was implemented from January 15, 2015 replacing the stringent Mizoram Liquor Total Prohibition Act, 1995, imposed in the state since February 20, 1997 and the first wine shop was opened three months later despite strong opposition from the powerful church.