Dimapur's Double Trouble: Student Leader Arrested, Restaurant Owner Banished Amid Liquor Ban Outcry

The controversy in Dimapur has escalated sharply, with Naga Students' Federation (NSF) Finance Secretary Katho P Awomi arrested for the June 30 vandalism at Prysm Lounge, and the restaurant's owner, Tito Yepthomi, banished from his native village for five years. This double whammy comes as a consortium of business and civil society groups — including the CNCCI, NCD, and WSYF — vocally condemned the incident, demanding strict adherence to the rule of law and highlighting deeper issues with Nagaland's decades-old liquor prohibition. The incident, captured on viral CCTV footage, reportedly showed Awomi vandalizing the lounge amid allegations of monetary demands from the NSF to Dimapur restaurants. While the NSF has since suspended Awomi and called for an impartial probe, it has also strategically shifted public attention to the lax enforcement of the Nagaland Liquor Total Prohibition (NLTP) Act, questioning how over 30 establishments openly sell alcohol despite the ban. This isn't a new debate; Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio himself acknowledged the Act's failure in urban areas in 2024, prompting calls for legal reforms over its 'mafia culture' and selective enforcement. With Awomi's arrest and Yepthomi's banishment intensifying the spotlight, all eyes are now on the Nagaland State Government. Organizations are urging immediate action to either fully enforce the NLTP Act 'in letter and spirit' or initiate significant legal changes, pushing for clarity after decades of ambiguity. The ongoing police investigation and the NSF internal inquiry are expected to run in parallel with these broader demands, as stakeholders await concrete steps to restore both business safety and public confidence in the rule of law.