CSOs meet CM on drug related cases: Talk breaks down, meira rally staged, stirs lined up
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 01 2013:
Even as civil society organisations agitating against the recent spurt in smuggling and trafficking of drugs held a meeting with Chief Minister O Ibobi today, the two sides could not arrive at any understanding.
Speaking to media persons this evening after the meeting with the Chief Minister, UPF president BM Yaima Shah said that representatives of the civil society organisations which have been protesting against drug smuggling in the aftermath of the seizure of huge consignment of drugs worth Rs 1.4 crore from Imphal Airport on January 11 and another consignment worth Rs 25 crore at Pallel held a meeting with the Chief Minister today.
During the meeting, the civil society leaders enquired as to who are the drug lords and what is the stage of investigation.
At this, Ibobi asked the civil society leaders to provide names of the persons involved in drug smuggling along with evidence about their involvement.
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After this, the CSO functionaries enquired as to why SIU was disbanded on the very same day when drugs worth Rs 1.4 crore were seized from Imphal airport and SIU OC Inspector Ranjit was immediately transferred.
To this query, the Chief Minister reportedly maintained that he has no knowledge about this and suggested to meet the DGP on the matter.
Taking strong exception to the Chief Minister's response, Yaima Shah remarked that such response was unbecoming of a leader.
During the meeting, Ibobi called the Imphal West SP and made him speak.
A total of seven cartons containing drugs were seized from Imphal airport.
Of the seven cartons, three were said to belong to one Md Rajauddin of Lilong Shambrukhong but the real identity of the other four cartons cannot be established till date.
As the Chief Minister's response was not satisfactory at all, the civil society organisations have decided to continue with their agitation in the forms of mass rallies and torch rallies, Yaima Shah said.
Seven delegates representing 15 different organisations took part in the meeting with Ibobi.
What is more alarming is the involvement of an army officer and son of an MLA, he remarked.
Already the CSOs have submitted a memorandum to the Governor and staged protest demonstration inside airport premises.
Another memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister yesterday.
It is one major weakness of the Government that it cannot the kingpins of the drug smuggling rackets, he decried.