PRO (DW) Busted
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 25, 2013 -

Like the proverbial Manipuri saying, 'Huranbagi Tarani, Mapugi Nongma', which when translated in English would roughly mean 'a robber may be successful in robbing ten times, but he is bound to be caught one day by the owner', the veil from the face of Indian Army personnel being deployed in Manipur seems to have been finally lifted to reveal their true colour for all to see in its stark reality.

It is interesting to note that just a day after some Assam Rifles personnel who came escorting two surrendered but armed leaders of KYKL-MDF in full combat dresses were taken into custody by Lamphel police when they tried to barge into the office room of Director of RIMS for what it appears to be a case of 'extortion demand'; Public Relations Officer of PIB (Defence Wing), Imphal Colonel Ajay Chaudhury was caught along with five others at Pallel while they were trying to smuggle out a huge consignment of drugs into Myanmar on February 24.

Considering the manner in which some of the Army personnel have acted vaingloriously and come to assume an air of superiority complex in whatever they do with immunity assured under the most despised Armed Forces Special Powers Act in Manipur, there was no sense of disbelief at all among the people when the two incidents came to light in such quick succession.

If there is any element of surprise, then it would be course, the quantity and worth of the drugs seized-it has put in shame anyone involved in the controversial January 11 drug seizure at Imphal Airport.

The seizure from the airport has definitely paled in comparison to the drug haul from Col Ajay Chaudhury.

Allegations of some Indian army and paramilitary officials being involved in smuggling of high value narcotics on the India-Myanmar border have always been raised by enforcement authorities.

As far as we could remember in 1988, one Major Balbir Singh Sangha was arrested with 2.2 kilograms of 'Double Globe' Burmese heroin at Dimapur.

On November 23, 2013, four persons including an Indian Army man were arrested by Central Industrial Security Force at Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi for attempting to smuggle out a large consignment of pseudo-ephedrine to Mizoram via Kolkata.

That is why we say that seizure of drugs from the vehicle in which Col Ajay Chaudhury was heading towards the border town of Moreh has come as no surprise to anyone.

In fact, the incident has only reconfirmed the suspicion of the people over the possibility of strong nexus between some big fishes in the State and the security personnel in the thriving drug cartels.

The arrest of Col Ajay Chaudhury along with an Assistant Manager of Indigo flight service has furthered indicated the extent of drug trafficking network.

There is also strong possibility that this may not be first time for Col Ajay Chaudhury to indulge in such a dirty game under the clout of PRO (Defence Wing) in Manipur.

Army authorities in Manipur have not yet given any official comment on the incident for obvious reason.

But a news agency has quoted Army spokesperson in Delhi Col Jagdeep Dahitya as assuring that 'it is a matter of investigation. If found guilty, strictest action will be taken as per the law of the land.'

All that we can say to this is Armed Forces Special Powers Act too is a law of the land under whose cover some unscrupulous Army men in Manipur are indulging in all sorts of unlawful activities. Period.