Man convicted in 2022 drug case
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 17 2025: The Special Court (ND&PS), Manipur, on Thursday convicted one Lunkhomang Ha-okip (40) of Langkhong village under Saikul police station in Kangpokpi district, for possessing of brown sugar in violation of Section 21(c) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 .

The court found the charges proved beyond reasonable doubt and fixed July 23 for the sentence hearing.

Presiding Judge Mona Lisa Maibam held that Lunkhomang Haokip was in unauthorised possession of 2.24 kg of Diacetylmorphine (brown sugar), recovered during an operation by NAB police station on October 15, 2022, at Pukhao Terapur near Dolaithabi Dam, Imphal East.

The contraband, divided into four packets and concealed inside the tool box of a Suzuki Access 125 bearing registration number MN-06SC6133, was seized along with a mobile phone from the accused.

The accused, who arrived alone on the two-wheeler, had allegedly disclosed to police during the checking that he was there to deliver a consignment of illegal drugs.

The seized substance tested positive for Diacetylmorphine using a field testing kit, and later confirmed through forensic analysis conducted before a magistrate.

The court observed that the two-wheeler was registered in the name of the convict and used in concealing the contraband.

During the trial, the defence failed to account for the possession of the drugs.

Citing Sections 35 and 54 of the ND&PS Act, the court noted that the burden lies on the accused to prove lack of conscious possession.

In absence of such evidence, the presumption under the Act applies.

The court also referred to the Supreme Court ruling in Madan Lal v State of Himachal Pradesh to affirm that once possession is established, the burden shifts to the accused to explain how the illicit substance came into their possession.

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