From Feb 24, 2013 to May 10, 2013 : The journey of an Army officer
- Sangai Express Editorial :: May 11, 2013 -

Colonel Ajay Chowdhry held after the Biggest drug haul at Pallel, Manipur on 24 February 2013 :: Pix - Gyanand Naorem

Not unexpected. The suspension of Colonel Ajay Chowdhry, for which an order was issued to this effect by Army Headquarters, dated 10th May, 2013, was along expected lines.

Justice or a pawn being made the proverbial sacrificial lamb in the big bad world of drug smuggling ?

The last word is yet to be said, with a case pending in the civil Court and the Army authority having hinted more than once that it would not interfere in the matter.

An obvious indication that the Army would not ‘protect’ its man, a senior officer caught along with a huge consignment of drugs at Pallel on the Imphal-Moreh route on February 24, 2013.

A strong statement, though not overtly stated. The precursor of things to come were somewhat clear. After the February 24 incident, the senior Army officer was shifted from the Public Relations Unit of the Army and transferred to the 59 Mountain Brigade as an Additional Officer for investigating and initiating disciplinary action against him on March 15.

A Colonel shifted to a fresh post sans his official designation says something profound.

Lest the real issue is derailed, let it be clear the issue of drug smuggling ought to and should be seen in its real perspective.

It is not only about an individual, though the fact remains that the February 24, Pallel drug seizure remains a high profile case, involving an Army officer of the rank of a Colonel as well as in terms of its monetary value, pegged at Rs 24 Crore in the international market.

It should be obvious that drug smuggling cannot be conducted by a rag tag group of people looking to make a fast buck, read that as a fortune.

Drug smuggling cannot be seen in isolation of an organised set up, a cartel, well connected with the people who wield immense political influence. This reality should not be lost, when it comes to the report about the suspension of Mr Chowdhry.

To be sure, there have been other cases of drug seizures after the February 24 incident. The son of a prominent political leader has also been netted.

The latest is the arrest of 12 police commandos, again at Pallel, while trying to smuggle drugs on April 28. Thirteen in all, including the Officer-in-Charge of the Commando unit of Moreh police and another civilian are in custody.

In between there have been cases of the law enforcing agencies cracking down on drug smuggling. The question however is whether any headway has been made to crack down on the cartel itself.

Other than the Colonel, the OC of Moreh police commandos and the son of an MLA, no big fishes have been netted. This is not to take away the efforts being taken up to deal with the menace of drug smuggling, but the fact remains that the big fishes have always managed to escape the net.

A case of the net not being cast long enough or selective casting of the net ? Mr Ajay Chowdhry has been suspended.

It remains to be seen which way the wind will blow, but the first significant step, post his arrest, has been taken. But to view the issue only through the prism of a senior Army officer caught would be missing the woods for the trees.

In all probability Mr Chowdhry was just a courier, a small cog in the wheels of the cartel. The logical question is when the real drug barons will be cornered and netted.

And to keep the record straight, The Sangai Express is not an apologist of Mr Chowdhry.