Bodies launch anti-drug drive
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 26 2013: A symbolic march to Raj Bhavan and submission of a memorandum demanding effective implementation of anti-drug measures today marked the formal launch of the anti-drug campaign by various organisations.

Women activists namely Th Ramani Devi, Ph Sakhileima and S Momon on behalf of 14 civil society organisations called on Governor Gurbachan Jagat this afternoon and apprising the latter on the present situation arising out of large haul of banned drugs in the State urged the Governor to contribute his mite in saving the future generation of Manipur from the scourge of substance abuse.

In the joint memorandum the Governor was urged to prevail upon the Government of Manipur for reviving the Special Intelligence unit (SIU), specially formed to probe drug-related cases but disbanded by the Government; revoke transfer order of SIU officer in-charge K Ranjit, who was transferred soon after seizing a huge consignment of drugs from Imphal (Tulihal) Airport recently; stringent punitive action against drug smugglers; implement effective measure/law to check drug smuggling; institute an independent body to investigate the recent drug haul at pallel; and pull up all officials of Imphal Airport involved or conniving with drug smugglers.

On behalf of the 14 organisations, which included women bodies and NGOs sustaining anti-drug campaigns, Nupi Samaj general secretary and Amkil president Ph Sakhi Leima told newspersons at EEMA, Keishampat office that continuous public outcry for declaring the real identity of the drug smuggler in the Tulihal Airport case followed by the recent huge drug haul at Pallel suggest involvement of wealthy and influential persons in drug smuggling.

Disagreeing with police authorities naming a Muslim individual in the Tulihal case as owner of the drug consignment and criticism disbandment of the SIU consequent to the airport haul, both insisted, quoting newspaper report, that involvement of an army Colonel, Assistant Manager of a private airliner and close relatives of a senior Government official and an elected member of the State assembly in the Pallel case is a clear indication that drug smuggling is being carried out in a clandestine manner and involve influential people.

Further opining that Government of India's involvement in the drug trade cannot be ruled out at the juncture as a part of the sinister campaign to blunt the skilful and spirited Manipuris as well as weaken the State youth, the women activists lashed out at the Central Government for continuous subjugation of Manipuris.

Affirming that anti-drug campaigns would be carried out vigorously and conveying that the Governor has been urged to closely monitor activities of Army officers and all the 60 MLAs, they also expressed that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh owes an explanation to the people for his suspect involvement in the Tulihal Airport case.

Regretting that involvement of law enforcement agencies in drug smuggling pose one of the greatest challenges on the survival of the Manipuris, the duo demanded that Airport security officials should be subjected to intense interrogation as the aerial route becoming a favourite route of drug smuggling cannot be possible without involvement of airport personnel.

Even as the people of Manipur had been enduring the scourge of AFSPA 1958 the impeding threat from drugs tantamount to launching chemical warfare against Manipuris, they observed.

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