2nd Pallel Drug Haul : All 11 Cdos to cool their heels in jail
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, May 06 2013: All the 11 police commandos, who were caught by a team of Thoubal Police Commandos at Pallel on April 28 while they were trying to smuggle out a huge consignment of Pseudoephedrine tablets worth around 3.64 crores drugs into Moreh and beyond, have been remanded to judicial custody for 11 days after the report of the Investigating Officer (IO) stating that they were bribed with an amount of Rs 1.20 lakhs for transporting the drugs from Imphal to Moreh, was brought up in the Court today.

In accordance to the case taken up by Kakching PS, all the 11 police commandos were produced before the Special Court of Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances at Lamphelpat here today.

After hearing the appeal of the counsel of the prosecution, placed before Judge Ronald Keishing, all the 11 accused Commando personnel were remanded to 11 days' judicial custody.

Accused Cdos being brought to the special court of ND&PS

Among the 11 police commandos, six of them were travelling in the Gypsy (MN01 X- 3392) along with SI Beisamayum Devdas.

They are Thanglenmang Touthang, s/o late Yamkhogam Touthang of Pallel H Kotlenphai village; Maibam Henik Singh, s/o M Nongthon Singh of Naharup Mayai Leikai; Ngangom Premjit, s/o Ng Khomei of Chingmeirong maning Leikai; Ningthoujam Surkumar, s/o N Gopal of Khongman Mayai Leikai and Soram Ranbir of Imphal East Police Commando but now posted at Moreh.

The other five police commandos namely Ningthoujam Nilamani, s/o N Basanta ofPhayeng Mayai Leikai; Nongmaithem Priyokumar, s/o N Sarat of Kakching Chumnang Leikai; Sorensangbam Opendrajit, s/o S Tomba of Kiyam Siphai Amuraijam Leikai and Thokchom Bijendro, s/o Th Jugeshwar of Salungpham Mayai Leikai were travelling in another Gypsy along with Jamadar H Premananda of Iramsiphai when they were arrested.

While appearing before the court today, the counsel of six of them (Nongmaithem Priyokumar, Ningthoujam Surkumar, Ngangom Premjit, Maibam Henik Singh, Thanglenmang Touthang and Soram Ranbir) pleaded for granting bail on the ground that they were not aware of the presence of the drugs in the vehicles which were provided to them and they were just in the team as a part of their duty.

However, the plea was rejected by the court as there was strong proof that all of them were closely related to the drugs.

According to a report produced by the IO in the court, Jemandar Premananda had assured that a sum of Rs 1,20,000 would be paid as transportation charge from one of the co-associates of Md Ali on their arrival at Moreh from Imphal.

The said amount would have to be distributed among all the officers and men according to their rank and file as per instruction from SI RK Binorjit, OC in-charge of Commandos, Moreh Post.

Md Ali, who is reported to be the owner of the seized drug consignment, is still on the loose despite the efforts allegedly being made by the police to nab him.

According to highly placed source, SP of Thoubal AK Jhalajit has given a written statement to the SP of Imphal West informing of his desire to arrest SI RK Binorjit, OC in-charge of CDO, Moreh Post on May 4.It is most likely that the accused CO in-charge would be arrested soon and handed him over to Thoubal Police for necessary interrogation.

Meanwhile, all the 11 accused police commandos have been suspended from service and related orders in this regard forwarded to all the concerned authorities.