Pallel Drug Haul::: Formal arrest of detainees effected
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, March 08 2013:
Kakching police today effected formal arrest of PRO of PIB (DW) Colonel Ajay Chowdhry and six others, who were detained along with drugs worth more than Rs 15 crore at Pallel on February 24 last.
The seven persons including Colonel Ajay Chowdhury, PRO of PIB (Defence Wing) were produced before Justice Ronald Keishing at the Special Court of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) at Lamphelpat today.
Apart from remanding them to judicial custody till March 22, the Special Court of NDPS also granted approval of the prayer by the Investigating Officer (IO) of three different FIR cases registered against the seven detainees for allowing them to be taken into police custody till March 12 to effect formal arrest.
Three FIRs (FIR numbers are 25, 26, 27) registered under Section 21/29 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 are related to punishment for financing illicit traffic of drugs and harbouring offenders as well as abetment and criminal conspiracy among others.
The seven detainees, who were arrested formally today and remanded into police custody for five days are PRO of PIB (DW) Colonel Ajay Chowdhry s/o Late Shashidhar Narayan Chowdhry; Assistant Manager of IndiGo Airlines Ngairangbam Brojendro (40) s/o late Ng Gyaneshwar of Singjamei Khongnang Pheidekpi; Haopu Haokip (28) s/o late Thangam Haokip of Langol Game Village Zone 2, Minthang Doungel (27) s/o Lunkhohao of New Checkon; Sitlal Haokip (25) s/o late Otkhokai Haokip of New Checkon near Brighter School, Army personnel RK Babloo (25) s/o RK Bijen of Top Khongnangkhong and Saikholen Haokip (35) s/o senior Congress MLA and former Minister TN Haokip of Dewlahlane.
Mention may be made that a team of Thoubal district Commandos led by OC Sudhir detained Colonel Ajay Chowdhry and five persons at Pallel along with drugs worth more than Rs 15 crores in two Bolero and one Tata Safari vehicles on February 24 last.
Police interrogation further led to the arrest of Saikhulen Haokip on the night of February 26 along with 2316 pseudoephedrine tablets from his house.
During the proceedings of Special Court of NDPS today, Judge Ronald Keishing questioned why police have registered three different FIRs for a single offence and advised the Investigating Officer (IO) to make it a single case.
In response, the IO pointed out that the arrested persons were involved in a ring of conspiracy and it was necessary to file three FIRs to investigate into the matter thoroughly.
Once the investigation is completed, police will frame charge against them by combining the three cases.
The court appointed an advocate as Legal Aid Counsel and conducted the hearing as counsel of the accused persons did not possess power of attorney.
During the hearing, the seven accused persons admitted their offence and they were subsequently remanded into police custody for five days.
It may also be mentioned here that Saikholen Haokip was remanded into police custody after being produced before CJM, Thoubal Aribam Noutuneshwari at her home at Sagolband Moirangmayum Leirak on February 26 .
The CJM court also referred the case to Special Court of NDPS since it was not under the jurisdiction of CJM Thoubal.