While Mizoram has fluctuated between prohibition and the sale of liquor, there is one locality well-known to locals as a place where liquor is readily available. Commonly referred to as RV or Rangvamual, this area has earned a notorious reputation for households selling bootleg liquor, often sourced from Assam or Meghalaya.
Along the same road, before reaching Rangvamual, there was a stretch known as ‘senchi lane’ or the ‘red-product lane,’ where liquor such as whiskey and rum could easily be found. This stretch falls under the jurisdiction of the Vaivakawn locality.
This road also serves as the route from Lengpui, Mizoram’s sole airport, to Aizawl, the state’s capital, making it a stretch that every tourist or visitor to the state passes through. “There were often reports of bodies found on the road, and we saw the lives of our youth being wasted right before our eyes. Furthermore, the stretch, populated by youths either buying liquor or passing out on the roads, was becoming an embarrassment as tourists passed through. We knew we had to take action,” said Medard, the secretary of the outgoing Local Council committee.
In Vaivakawn, two major organizations have been combating the use and illegal sale of drugs and alcohol for years: the Vaivakawn Ruihhlo Do Coordination Committee (VRDCC) and Vaivakawn Siamtha Pawl (VSP).
While these organizations had been consistently working to curb illegal liquor sales and drug use, participation and enthusiasm from volunteers had dwindled over time compared to when the efforts initially began.
“We decided to call a meeting with representatives from every church and NGO in our locality, and that’s how the idea for this initiative came about,” said Medard.
From June 8 to September 2024, every night from 8 PM to 12 AM, community members—including mothers, fathers, and youth—came together to patrol the stretch of road known as “Senchi Lane.”
Duties were assigned on a roster, with up to eight members on duty each night. This marked the first time an entire community—across all churches and age groups—united to curb the sale of bootleg liquor in their area.
Volunteers built a duty hut, also known as Venbuk, where those keeping watch could rest when they were not on vigil.
“There was great unity among us. People would dutifully show up for their shifts, and the results showed that our efforts were not in vain,” said the former Local Council secretary.
Most bootleg liquor sellers were not from the local community but had rented dilapidated houses at high rates to conduct their illegal business.
Thanks to the efforts of the Vaivakawn local community, at least 20 families involved in the illegal liquor trade were driven out, with the families voluntarily agreeing to stop their illicit activities.
“We can’t say that everyone has been driven out—there will still be a few individuals selling bootleg liquor in the area. However, we can see that the major nuisance has been controlled, and the area has become much quieter,” he added.
Towards the end of the year, the Local Council adjusted their strategy, as bootleg liquor sellers had begun tracking the duty timings and staying vigilant during those hours. In response, the council started conducting surprise visits.
While the community participated enthusiastically in the initiative, some found it difficult to balance their church, social, and work commitments with the long duty hours.
EastMojo spoke with a few youths who participated in the drive. David Lalramchhana, a resident of Vaivakawn, said, “I support their larger goal, but the public may not be able to handle the pressure in the long run. Moreover, the duty hours are quite long, and with many activities outside of daily work, a four-hour shift is a tough commitment for night volunteers.”
Another youth, Noel Lalchawilena, shared, “At first, we placed a lot of importance on the drive, but as more obligations, such as church and social activities, piled up, it became difficult for many to consistently show up for their shifts.”
“When we were on rigorous duty, we could see that the problem in the Vaivakawn area was largely resolved. Even those involved in illegal bootleg liquor sales were asked to leave,” he said.
The Excise and Narcotics Department also expressed their admiration for the initiative taken by the Vaivakawn Local Council members.
Peter Zohmingthanga, Joint Commissioner (Enforcement) at the Excise and Narcotics Department, told EastMojo, “They built a venbuk and successfully drove out many of those involved in illegal bootleg liquor sales. During the day, personnel from the Excise and Narcotics Department were on vigil, while at night, the community volunteers kept watch. With round-the-clock vigilance, the area became much safer and cleaner. While we can’t claim that the illegal sale has been completely eradicated, we can see significant progress, and the crowd that once gathered here has been driven away.”
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