Imphal, January 16: Volunteers of All manipur Anti-Drug Association (amada) seized tobacco items and betel leaves worth about Rs 26,33,250 in the market and destroyed the same consignment near the erstwhile Loitang Khunou Spinning Mill this afternoon.

Constant vigil by Amada volunteers who reportedly trailed a truck (MN01/5621) from senapati town before halting and checking the vehicle at Sekmai Bazar at around 10 am is said to have yielded the tobacco products and the betel leaves (mitha-pati) whose sale or consumption had been prohibited by both armed and unarmed organisations in the State.

The items seized along with its market value has been detailed as follows talab (Rs 17,16,000); zarda (Rs 8,02,500); raja Chap Khaini (Rs 48,150); and betel leaves (Rs 6,66,000) .

The consignment was meant to be delivered to one Md Nongyaimayum Nahachouba alias Bashir Rahman (35) s/o Md N Suleiman alias narrahman of Lilong Khunou.

The driver identified as Md N Ibocha alias Farid Khan is said to be Bashir's younger brother and the vehicle owned by the Nongyaimayum family.

The banned items were lifted from Dimapur and transported along with dietary goods (Bhalbog) which are supplied to Anganwadi centres.

Farid was accompanied by two other youths from Lilong Khunou namely Md Abdul Hamid s/o Md Abdul Hakim and Md Abocha s/o Md Nashim.

Interacting with newspersons on the huge seizures, AMADA functionaries asked Nahachouba alias Bashir Rahman to surrender at its head office within January 18 apart from informing that as agreed between the anti-drug campaigners the vehicle would be barred from servicing for a 20 day period.

Observing that vehicles ferrying harmful tobacco products/items had been able to cross into the State instead of relentless endeavour of volunteers of AMADA and like-minded organisations, the functionaries questioned rationale of check-posts being lined up all along the NHs that connects the State.

Further asserting that allowing free access to vehicles carrying harmful products reflects insensitivity on the part of the Govt to the general masses's relentless effort to promote a society free from man-made ills and prevent the upcoming generation from falling prey to hazardous products, the AMADA representatives pronounced that time has come for everyone to contribute their mite in checking the menace.

Comment