Three more held in poppy cases
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 11 2023:
Day after the arrest of two poppy farmers and one investor, police on Saturday rounded up two more poppy farmers and an investor in separate cases.
Police source said that a joint team of Kangpokpi district police, recruits from MPTC, forest department, 4th and 5th IRB personnel destroyed illegal poppy plants in around 20 acres in Pangjang village area under Saikul police station on Saturday.
On the other hand, a team of Saikul PS led by its OC Inspector B Lunthang Vaiphei arrested two poppy farmers in connection with illegal poppy plantation at Puleijang range and Lhangsom range, on Saturday.
The duo has been identified as Lamkhohao (55) son of Holkhopao of Puleijang village and Jangginlal (25) son of Jamlhun of Dinglen village.
Meanwhile, in follow up investigation of the case registered in connection with illegal poppy farming in T Boljang village under Machi police station, police arrested yet another investor following disclosure made by one of the two farmers arrested on Thursday.
The poppy farmer, Damkhoning Haokip, who is already in police custody, disclosed that one Ningthoujam Jiban (48) son of late N Satyaban of Heirok Part-III under Heirok PS, Thoubal district invested a sum of Rs 80,000 for poppy cultivation in T Boljang village under the condition that she should return the investment as Opium instead of money.
Consequently, a team of Machi PS led by OC Inspector S Ibotombi, assisted by OC of Heirok PS Inspector H Sukumar arrested Ningthoujam Jiban from his residence on Saturday around 1.30 pm.
During interrogation, Jiban admitted to the charge and disclosed that, he invested Rs 80,000 to the family of the accused in June, 2020 but could not remember the exact date, the source added.