Probe on, stronger action mulled: DGP
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 18 2023: The five commando personnel who were arrested along with a huge consignment of contraband drugs have been placed under suspension and a departmental enquiry has been initiated against them, said DGP P Doungel.

Briefing media persons at Manipur Police Headquarters here today, DGP P Doungel said that the Police Department has been considering taking up stronger action against the five commando personnel.

With the five personnel already remanded in police custody, hectic investigation is on, the DGP said.

Saying that some leads and other details can be established within the next couple of days, Doungel maintained that it would be premature to divulge any detail to the public now.

Notably, five personnel of Kakching commando unit who were coming back from Moreh in a Maruti Gypsy were arrested by a team of Kakching district police at Kuraopoki along NH-102 in the morning of January 16 along with 1.336 Kg of heroin and 9.151 Kgs of WY tablets (80,000 pieces) .

It is rather unfortunate that one honourable MLA portrayed Manipur Police as a deceitful and useless force on the same day, Doungel said.

There is no question of Manipur Police ever deceiving the public.

As all five of them who were suspected to be culpable happen to be police personnel, there were certain difficulties in arresting them, the DGP said.

Nonetheless, after collecting detailed information and working meticulously, Manipur Police arrested its own personnel.

The arrest was a major event of Manipur police organisation and the organisation deserve appreciation for the same, he said.

From 2017 till January 17, 2023, 238.72 Kgs of heroin (No 4) powder, 7932.74 Kgs of ganja, 1685.15 Kgs of opium, 502.44 Kgs of SP capsule, 76,092 pieces of N-10 tablets, 1688.96 Kgs of WY tablets, 83,290 bottles of cough syrup, 943.41 Kgs ofbrown sugar, 181.49 Kgs of pseudo-ephedrine and 30,800 pieces of alphavin tablets were seized.

Moreover, ketamine, methaqualone, meta-amphetamine, tramadol, crystal methaphetamine, dextropropoxyphene capsules, halonitra, ketamax injection, simplex-C, ammonium chloride, tramazec capsule, vallium-5, clavitol-50 and notaks were also seized.

Further, 3750 Kgs of poppy straw and seven bags (16 Kg capacity) of poppy seeds were also seized during the last five years, the DGP said.

These statistics testify that Manipur Police do not deceive the public but are taking a key role in fighting the drug menace, he asserted.

The work of hacking down poppy plants is a very arduous task.

Sometimes, the security personnel have to climb hills for one to two hours and they see bigger poppy plantations after reaching the hill tops or mountain ridges, he said.

At other times, the security personnel have to put up the night at poppy plantation sites without proper food and resting place, the DGP continued.

"The particular honourable MLA also held a press meet at the office of the Kakching SP but we have very little to say on the matter", Doungel said.

"As the Police Department has been working hard to investigate the particular drug seizure case, the press meet turned out to be a hurdle", he continued.

He then appealed to all concerned to understand the difficulties and limitations faced by Manipur Police.

He further appealed to all the people to cooperate and support the actions taken up by Manipur Police as parts of the War on Drugs.

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