Head constable arrested In ₹ 31 cr drug haul case
Source: Chronicle News Service

Kangpokpi, May 11 2022: In th*e biggest ever drug haul case so far in Kangpokpi district and the state this year, Kangpokpi police on Monday seized 'suspected' Heroin worth Rs 31.80 crore in the international market as part of its steadfast stand on the "War against Drugs" campaign.

The police have also arrested three persons, including one head constable of Manipur Police department, in connection with the case, Said Kangpokpi SP Amrita Sinha.

The seizure was made on Monday around 1:30 pm by a team at Kangpokpi police station led by sub-inspectors Hemjamang Khongsai and Raju Singh under the direct instruction of Kangpokpi OC inspector Sunil Kumar.

Briefing media persons at her office, Amrita Sinha said that during the frisking and checking the police team stopped one unregistered Honda City Car (Maroon colour) driven by Solensei Haokip (23), son of Thanglun Haokip of G Khonom village with one occupant namely Jamgoulen Haokip (21), son of Letthang Haokip of Kingkin village, both in Churachandpur district.

She also said that on disclosure of the duo, due formalities and Standard of Procedures of the ND&PS Act were observed by informing senior officers and the vehicle was searched in the presence of SDC Puyam Rahuldev Singh as Executive Magistrate and independent witness of Kangpokpi Town Committee and Kangpokpi Youth Union.

The trio was produced before the court and remanded to police custody for 10 days.

Kangpokpi SP rewarded the police officers leading the team in the seizure of drugs with citations and cash rewards.

Amrita Sinha also declared the district police has firm resolve to make the "War against Drugs' mission effective in the district and called upon the denizens to cooperate and help in the war against drugs campaign.

According to Sinha, a team of Kangpokpi police, while conducting random frisking and checking of vehicles along National Highways in Kangpokpi district, intercepted one unregistered Honda City car.

Two persons identified as Solensei Haokip, 23, and Jamgoulen Haokip, 21, hailing from Churachandpur district were also arrested.

On interrogation, the duo con fessed to be drug peddlers and also admitted possessing drugs in their vehicle, said SP Sinha.

During the search operation, the police team recovered 212 soap cases, containing suspected heroin weighing approximately 2.131 kg which is worth Rs 63 lakh in the local market and Rs 31 crore in the international market.

Two mobile phones and three ATM cards were also recovered from their possession.

SP Sinha said on preliminary interrogation, the two drug smugglers revealed that they obtained the seized drugs from one Lunminthang Haokip alias Mimim Taqchapa of Kholmun village from Churachandpur district.

Lunminthang Haokip is serving as a head constable in Manipur police and is presently posted at Churachandpur attached to CID (SB) at Henglep post.

The head constable was arrested from his residence on Tuesday with the assistance of Churachandpur SP and OC, it said.

The police also seized one unregistered Mahindra Thar vehicle and one mobile phone from his possession.

A case has been registered against the three accused under sections 21(C)/29/60(3) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (ND&PS) Act for further investigation and necessary legal action, it added.

Joining the media briefing Kangpokpi ASP Abul Kalam said that Kangpokpi police has been strongly advocating the Chief Minister's 'War on Drugs' in the district by destroying more than 2000 acres of poppy cultivation so far while adding that Kangpokpi is the second-highest poppy plantation district in the state.

He also noted that most of the police officers are committed to curbing the drug menace in the district and informed that Kangpokpi police is the only police so far to arrest six poppy cultivators and put them behind the bar.

"Manipur is known as the powerhouse of sports but unfortunately it is undesirably becoming popular as the powerhouse of drugs", said the MPS officer while appealing to the people to work collectively to tackle the drug menace.

Officer-in-Charge of Kangpokpi inspector Sunil Kumar appreciated the commitment of the district's civil society organisations and Kangpokpi Town civil bodies including KTC, KWWO, and KYU for their bold and firm decision to ban drugs and poppy cultivation in the district.

He also appealed to the people of Kangpokpi to continue their cooperation and support to keep the district drug free.

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