MPP, BJP hint involvement of 'big fishes' in drug trade
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, January 17 2013: Drug culture has entrenched into politics in the state and it is unfortunate to learn the ignorance of Home Minister Gaikhagam in connection with abolition of the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) of Imphal West district in a suspicious manner by SP Imphal West K Jayenta, the fire brand leader O Joy of Manipur People's Party has stated.

Speaking to Hueiyen Lanpao at the party office located behind Polo Ground here today, O Joy said that media reports on Home Minister's ignorance over abolition of SIU shows Home Minister's utter failure in dealing with one of the most important public issues and it is regrettable for all the people of Manipur.

The anti-drug unit was been abolished by SP, I/W on 15th January; four days after K Ranjit, then Inspector of SIU, Imphal West and his team seized a large drug consignment of Pseudoephedrine tablets worth around Rs 1.4 crore from an Air Deccan Cargo flight at Tulihal Airport on 11th January, 2013 .

Observing that the Home Department should be sensitive to any public issue, the MPP leader alleged that the quick transfer of Ranjit who seized the drug consignment shows that some of VIPs are involved in it.

Earlier, state police, narcotic cells and SIU seized various drug consignments from Imphal airport but the names of the drug smugglers were never made public.

It means that VIPs are involved in all these cases.

Some of illegal drug-dealers in the state entered into politics after becoming crorepati and some of them are now in the present government as MLAs or Ministers, O Joy asserted.

Demanding a CBI probe into the issue, O Joy maintained that if the state police have to investigate, it would be a case of delivering judgment by the culprit for himself.

O Joy informed that MPP would conduct a detail investigation into the matter and announce further line of actions.

Moreover, state government should launch a drive to root out political drug culture in the state and Civil Society Organisations should co-operate in this regard.

When contacted, President of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Manipur Unit Th Chaoba refused to comment on the issue.

Nonetheless, he briefly maintained that some big names are definitely involved in drug trade and the party has some concrete information, and so the details would be revealed at an appropriate time.

"It's going to be a big issue.

BJP have all the details, some of the big names in the state are also involved in the case.

Let us wait some time before revealing their names," Chaoba added.

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