Drug smuggling cases: HM points finger elsewhere
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, February 20 2013:
Terming that the rising number of drug smuggling cases in the State as very serious issue, which could erase the whole Manipuri race, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam, who also holds the portfolio of Home, has, however, pointed finger to outside forces behind all these drug cases in the State.
Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao in connection with recent spate of drug seizures in the State, Gaikhangam categorically stated that the cases of smuggling drugs into Manipur, which involved huge amount of money, could not be the handiwork of a handful of people in the State.
There is the high possibility of outside hands and forces in the illegal trade.
He further stated that the drugs in Manipur are being brought from mainland India for being smuggled into Myanmar.
This is very systemically organized crime and the Home Department is seriously discussing over the issue.
While praising the police and narcotic officials of the State, the Home Minister said that it is because of their high intelligence and alertness that the Police and narcotics officials have solved a number of drug related crimes in Manipur.
He admitted that drug trafficking has been going on in Manipur for quite some time now but since the intelligence was poor, none of the drug traffickers have been able to arrest.
In view of high possibility of outside forces involving in drug trafficking cases in Manipur, the State Home Department alone would not be able to solve the problem.
That is the reason why the State Government has handed the case of drug seizure from Imphal Airport involving Rs 1.4 crores over to the CBI, he explained.
Gaikhangam also clarified that the Home Department neither recognizes the formation nor the dissolution of Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) of Imphal West district.
"It may have been set up at the own discretion of Superintendent of Police, but later dissolved it due to certain inconveniences", the Home Minister noted.
Over the public suspicion of involvement of some high-profile persons of the State in the Airport drug scandal, Gaikhangam maintained that since the case is being handed over to the CBI, the truth would be ultimately revealed.