CBI formally takes up Pallel, Tulihal drug haul cases
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 24 2013:
Despite the initial reluctance, the Central Bureau of investigation (CBI) has agreed to probe the seizure of illegal drugs from Pallel and Tulihal Airport.
While arrest made by the police in connection with the Pallel drug haul case included an Army Colonel, son of a sitting MLA, a Territorial Army personnel (later proclaimed as a deserter), an Indigo Airlines personnel and three others said to be relatives of a former Minister, a person accused in the Tulihal Airport case has been declared as innocent after police could not furnish convincing evidence.
Confirming that the CBI has agreed to investigate the cases, that had sparked widespread public protest over suspicion that more influential individuals might be involved in mass scale drug smuggling, an informed source disclosed that the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) had issued a notification to this end three days back.
Speaking to The Sangai Express on condition of anonymity a Home Department official explained that consequent to the DOPT notification and consent of the State Government police the case will formally be handed over to the CBI.
On February 24, a team of Thoubal district police commandos stationed near Pallel police outpost recovered huge quantity of drug, having psychotropic Pseudoephedrine composition, and estimated to be worth about Rs 25 crore in the international market.
Besides recovery of huge quantity of the banned drugs, the three vehicles transporting the illegal consignment were found to be occupied by the Army PRO Col Ajay Chowdhry, Assistant Manager (Customer Service) of Indigo Airlines Imphal office Ngairangbam Brojendro, 165 Bn Territorial Army personnel RK Babloo, Minlan Haokip, Haipu Haokip and Minthang Doungel.
Apparently based on disclosure by the arrested persons during preliminary investigation, Thoubal police commandos pulled up sitting MLA TN Haokip's son Seikholen Haokip from the latter's Deulahlane residence, from where another consignment of illegal drugs was also recovered the next day.
All the accused persons in the Pallel drug haul case have been released on bail on July 15 and 17 .
Following public outcry over the Pallel drug haul case, the State Cabinet eventually decided to entrust the case to the CBI.
Regarding the Rs 1.5 crore worth drug haul from Tulihal Airport on January 11, the Home Department official confided that despite initial reluctance the CBI has agreed to investigate the matter.
It may be noted that a team of Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Manipur Police had recovered the drugs from the Airport premises but the said Unit was controversially disbanded again evoking public outrage against the disbandment and transfer of the Sub Inspector directly involved in the drug seizure.
Even though police rounded up one Md Rajauddin of Lilong Sambrukhong in connection with the Airport case, the special court of NDPS had set the individual free on account of the police unable to substantiate their charge.
Reminding that inspite of a State Cabinet decision the CBI had declined to take up the Airport case, the official opined that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh recently meeting the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in New Delhi and prevailing upon the latter duo to entrust the drug haul cases to the CBI might have resulted in the latest development of the central agency accepting the case.
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