Cops suspended
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 23 2022:
Two police officers involved in facilitating the escape of two village chiefs who were summoned to police station in connection with poppy plantation have been placed under suspension.
This was informed by Chief Minister N Biren while responding to certain queries raised by media persons on the sideline of a function held at the Chief Minister's Secretariat today where the DIPR's annual calendar and diary were released.
After poppy plantation was detected using drones in a remote area of IT Road, two village chiefs were summoned to Kangpokpi police station yesterday.
Even as the police officers concerned were instructed to bring the village chiefs to Imphal for proper questioning, the two village chiefs somehow disappeared from the police station.
"On learning about the disappearance of the village chiefs, I immediately asked the concerned officer to suspend the two police officers who helped the village chiefs in escaping from the police station", Biren said.
The two suspended police officers have been identified as Inspector Henminthang Kipgen and Sub-Inspector SL Seiminthang.
Both of them were posted in Kangpokpi police station, sources informed.
The Chief Minister further informed that a strong police team was sent to the area today where poppy plantation was detected.
Even though the masses and many tribal leaders have come out in support of the Government's War on Drugs, poppy is still cultivated in some areas.
It is essential to ascertain whether the poppy plantation is done under pressure from some individuals or the village chiefs are leasing out land for poppy plantation, Biren said.