Cong demands probe into drug bust cases
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 23 2023:
Congress party has demanded the state government to conduct a separate investigation into the inter-state drug trade cases busted in other states by their respective state police so that those behind the illegal trades could also be arrested.
Addressing a press conference at Congress Bhawan here on Thursday, MPCC vice - president Hareshwar Goswami said that the government's War on Drugs mission is praiseworthy on one hand but shows irrelevance on the other.
For instance, the implementation of Liquor Regulation Policy has resulted in busting of illegal liquor trades.
At the same time, maximum of the focus of the War on Drugs mission seems to be on illegal poppy cultivation and it lacks holistic approach.
The state is witnessing spike in illegal poppy cultivation thereby making the state a hotspot for drug cartels.
Incidents of busting of drugs originating from Manipur or trafficked via Manipur are on the rise too.
Such situation often raises question on the purpose or effectiveness of the War on Drugs, he said.
Hareshwar also asked why the state police or Assam Rifles could not detect such illegal trafficking while police in other states could.
This raises the suspicion of some high-profile people involving in drug trades, he said.
For example, drugs worth Rs 1299 crore were seized and several people were arrested in 2022.On July 25, 2022, Yaba tablets worth Rs 20 crore were seized in Guwahati.
Similar seizures of drugs also occurred last year and each time the drugs were worth more than Rs 15 crore.
Recently, 4 kg of opium worth around Rs 10 crore were seized by Delhi Police special cell on February 17 .
Delhi police also arrested two individuals along with the drugs and they have been identified as Ranbir Singh alias Tingku of Laipham Khunou, Heingang, and Loyangamba Itocha as per police report.
It is said that opium smuggled from Myanmar is transported up to Delhi, Punjab and UP via Manipur.
Delhi police arrested the duo and seized the opium from a Maruti Brezza car as per statement issued by Delhi Police Special Cell DCP Alok Kumar.
Delhi police further stated that there is a drug cartel called Itocha International Drug Cartel based in Manipur and the two might be members of the cartel.
Observing that international and inter-state drug smuggling is on the rise in the past 5 to 6 years, he questioned the reason behind the increasing drug issue.
There are unconfirmed reports, which suggest Loyangamba Itocha is a family member of a high-profile person in the government, but Congress is not sure if the report is true.
Upon checking the electoral roll, the party came across a person named Leishangthem Loyangamba, son of Leishangthem Itocha Meitei in the electoral roll of Khurai Sajor Leikai, Part No 32.The government should investigate if the particular person is actually a family member of a high profile person in the government.
Chief Minister N Biren should also table a report in this regard, he said, while demanding the government to handover the case of Itocha Drug Cartel to the CBI.