Man 'sells' daughters to buy Drugs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 10 2014: In one of the most appalling act witnessed in the state, a 41-year-old drug addict allegedly sold his two minor daughters in a desperate effort to lay his hands on illicit heroin, reports our Lamka correspondent.

The accused Thangchin-mang, resident of Bung- mual, was arrested by police early today about ten days after he sold his two daughters, aged around 5 and 4.The father, according to sources had sold the girls to two women from Moirang area on July 1 and collected Rs.10,000 out of the Rs.30,000 he has agreed to accept in exchange for his daughters at Moirang Khunou the following day.

Relatives of the accused who lived with the girls in a rented house reportedly learnt about the dealing about six days later and raised an alarm over it with varous Zomi civil bodies, along with the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Churachandpur working in the forefront to trace the kids and bring them back.

The CSOs after roping in the service of the CWC members in their neighbouring district, managed to trace the girls at Moirang Khunou and eventually alerted the police who rescued them later today.

The girls according to police have been separated, possibly after the query of local CWC members, when they raided the locality where the girls were found, one near the INA complex and the other at Moirang Khunou.

Addressing the press along with the CSOs and CWC members today, Superintendent of Police Churachandpur K Kabib credited the operation that brings back the two girls to tireless efforts of the CSOs, the CWCs and personnel of his department who were led by Investigating Officer and the OC.

He said the CWC shal decide on the girls' guardianship adding, they are joining the dots on the events that led to the girls exchanging hands for money and expressed confidence that more people will be booked as their investigation progresses.

The girls are now with the CWC Churachandpur while their father who sold them for drugs was in police custody.

The accused told reporters that he deeply regretted his action when the latter were given opportunity to photograph him today but a source close to the investigation said he feigned when he was first taken to the place where cash was exchanged hands.

He added that he lived alone with the girls as their mother left them for another man about a year ago and often left behind his daughters during the day to earn their living.

Comment