PRO (DW) Busted-II
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: February 26, 2013 -

The unprecedented public reaction over the biggest drug haul from three vehicles including the flag-post Bolero having two different number plates, one on top of the other, in which PRO of Press Information Bureau (PIB) Defence Wing Colonel Ajay Chowdhry of Bihar Infantry was not just travelling but also leading the rest towards Moreh, shows that it has been really hard for anyone to sit quiet over the recent spate of drug seizures in Manipur.

Was it simply a case of 'Chak Chagring Amana, Cheng Chengkok Ama Mangthok-e'? Or, in other words, one black sheep in the family spoiling the image of entire Indian Army and its establishment?

This is a pertinent question everyone in Manipur would like to raise specially in the light of the fact that the accused Colonel Ajay Chowdhry has denied any involvement in the drug smuggling attempt, regardless of the fact that the police commandos, who intercepted him, found large quantity of drugs packed in two huge bags, five carton boxes and one huge plastic bag inside the Bolero in which he was travelling along with another accused identified as Ngairangbam Brojendro, who is said to be an Assistant Manager in charge of Security Staff in IndiGo Airlines service at the Imphal Tulihal Airport.

It's true that in accordance to law of the land, the guilt of an accused person cannot be presumed until proven in a law, but the contradictory statements that Colonel Ajay Chowdhry has been churning out to media within few hours of the drug haul to prove his innocent by contending that he has been 'cheated' is something that no one would be able to overlook that easily.

CNN IBN Live has quoted Colonel Ajay Chowdhry as saying, "… A senior officer, whom I know, came to me … just requested that since he comes for trading to Moreh, people harass him en-route. He asked me if I could just help him to just take the merchandise to Moreh. So I asked him what it was, he said it is something he deals with. He is doing something which I'm not aware of, he didn't tell me."

But talking to Hindustan Times, Colonel Ajay Chowdhry reportedly claimed that he was "cheated" by the "nephew of a very senior officer" into accompanying him.

Since, he is a friend and he is a relative of someone senior, you will never suspect him of doing anything like this.... Somehow I have been cheated in this," Colonel Ajay Chowdhry is quoted to have said, adding that he asked his friend from IndiGo who agreed to join him so that they could do some "shopping" in Moreh.

Without batting an eyelid, we could safely presume that the two interviews have been given on the same day, perhaps, within a span of few hours of the biggest drug haul in the State.

But the accused Colonel Ajay Chowdhry changed his statements so drastically from that of 'a senior officer whom I know' coming to him for help to that of 'a nephew of a very senior officer' who cheated him, that we can't help but to conclude it as a clear case of 'Huranba Nakokta Napi Pak-le' (which literally means the reed is on the head of the thief among the group).

By the way, who is that unnamed 'senior officer' or 'the nephew of a very senior officer' that Colonel Ajay Chowdhry is claiming to have outwitted him? Does this mean an Army PRO could be easily outfoxed even by the nephew of a senior officer?

It seems Colonel Ajay Chowdhry has only opened up a Pandora's Box and the drama has just begun. So take your seat and enjoy.