No respite from drug menace: Man caught with drugs worth 40 Lakh
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 09, 2013:
After the seizure of drugs worth Rs 1.4 crores from Imphal Airport on January 11 last, there has been no respite for security personnel in the State from similar seizures of illicit drug consignments, thus indicating that Manipur has indeed become not just a transit route but also a breeding ground for drug smugglers.
In yet another successful drug haul, a man was caught with illegal drugs worth Rs 40 lakhs and recovered one country made pistol from his possession during a search operation carried out by a combined team of 30 Assam Rifles, 40 Assam Rifles and Lilong Police in Ipakthong and Kaleikhong area of Thoubal district since midnight yesterday till morning today.
The arrested drug smuggler has been identified as Md Wahidur Rehman (24), s/o Md Jiyauddin of Kaleikhong Machin.
Addressing media persons here today in connection with the latest drug haul, Inspector Hussain Ahmad, OC of Lilong Police Station, informed that the combined team launched the operation in Ipakthong and Kaleikhong area following receipt of specific information.
During the operation, the combined team found 54280 capsules of SP; 4700 tablets of N-10; two mobile handsets and a country made pistol wrapped in a big plastic bag from the house of Md Wahidur Rehman.
The seized drugs would fetch around Rs 40 Lakhs in local market, the police officer said.
A case has been registered in Lilong Police Station in connection with the seizure.
Meanwhile, a sit-in-protest demonstration was staged at Ghari today demanding revelation of the real owners of the drugs seized by Manipur Police from Imphal Airport and Pallel.
The protestors also pressed for awarding befitting punishment to the drug smugglers.
The sit-in-protest demonstration was organized under the joint aegis of CADA, AMADA, Ghari Apunba Lup and Ghari Youth Club.
Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the protest demonstration, a woman protestor stated that despite relentless protest of the people against the abuse and smuggling of illegal drugs into the State, the menace of drugs remained and the recent spate of seizure of drugs from high profile individuals has only showed why drug is proliferating in Manipur.
She further stated that concealing the real owners of the drugs seized from Imphal Airport, Pallel and Mantripukhri clearly indicated that many more well known leaders of the State and their near and dear ones are involved in drug smuggling.
The protestors also demanded re-institution of SIU and dissolution of the transfer order of OC of SIU Ranjit who succeeded in seizure of drugs worth Rs 1.4 crores from Imphal Airport and warned of intensifying the ongoing agitation if these demands are not considered by the State Government at the earliest possible.