Seizure of betel leaves at airport: Five held
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 06 2020: While four individuals were arrested yesterday in connection with the seizure of a large consignment of betel leaves from Bir Tikendrajit International Airport on March 4, another one was arrested today.

Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal West 1, who is also the Duty Magistrate of Imphal West, sent them to judicial remand after they failed to furnish their necessary PR bond.

The individuals, identified as Laishram Anil alias Chara (27) s/o L Bino of Changangei Mayai Leikai, Irengbam Surjit (40) s/o (L) Nabakumar of Changangei Mayai Leikai, Chingakham Surchandra (24) s/o Ningthoujao of Tairenpokpi Awang Leikai and Laishram Sanangamba (26) s/o Ingobi of Changangei Maning Leikai, were arrested yesterday night by a team of Singjamei PS .

Seizure of betel leaves at airport: Five held

A source informed that the IO of the case, Inspector K Bobby (OC, Bir Tikendrajit Airport PS) lodged a written report to the OC of Singjamei PS yesterday, stating that on April 4, at around 12 noon, personnel of the Bir Tikendrajit Airport PS, led by Additional SP (Law and Order) along with SDPO, Singjamei PS, under the overall supervision of Imphal West SP, rushed to the airport after getting news regarding the shipment of a huge consignment of betel leaves and found the items lying at the cargo delivery point.

Upon enquiry, it was found that the consignment was to be delivered in the name of one Thingujam Kamo (48) s/o Tomba of Yumnam Huidrom.

However Laishram Anil, who claimed to be the courier partner of Thingujam Kamo, came to the cargo delivery point to receive the consignment.

Thingujam Kamo was arrested today and later released after furnishing PR bond of Rs 50,000.The written report of the OC , TAPS, also mentioned that there is a restriction on transportation of non-essential commodities in the State via an order issued by the Chief Secretary on March 23 and as such, further enquiry was done to see if the consignee had acquired due permission for transportation of the consignment.

However, it was found that the required permission was not obtained by the consignee from the authority and as such the consignment was forbidden from being taken away.

The betel leaves were packed in 207 packets.

On preliminary interrogation, Laishram Anil revealed that some parts of consignment had already been transported to his house.

From his disclosure, and on production by one Irengbam Surjit, police seized 53 bags containing betel leaves from the go-down of one Sapam Tomba of Changangei Mayai Leikai (which is presently run by Irengbam Surjit) .

Accordingly, Anil and Surjit were arrested and they, along with the seized items, were handed over to Singjamei PS.

In further course of action, Chingakham Surchandra and Laishram Sanangamba were also arrested yesterday and police seized two Maruti vans containing three loose gunny bags filled with betel leaves, the source added.

On interrogation, all the arrested persons admitted to the charges leveled against them, the source mentioned, adding that all four were produced before the Duty Magistrate last night along with a prayer for judicial remand.

During the proceeding, the Court had ordered all four to be released after they furnished a PR bond of RS 50,000 along with a surety of the same amount each but as none of them were able to do so, they were remanded into judicial custody till April 18 .