One held with opium and fake army vehicle
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 14 2026: One non-local man travelling in a fake army vehicle, apparently with an intention to evade security checks, has been arrested with 15.350 Kgs of opium.

A joint team of Special Operation Team, Senapati Police, 78 Battalion CRPF, 109 Quick response Team CRPF and a column of 16 Assam Rifles conducted random checking of vehicles at T Khullen check-post along imphal-Dimapur highway under the supervision of Senapati SP Zaib Shaikh SP Senapati at around 9 am today.

As the joint team was checking vehicles, one car (Innova) with flagpost but without any escort team and bearing Assam registration number plate was seen moving on the highway.

As it looked suspicious, the security forces detained the vehicle with flagpost for verification and checking, sources said.

On verification, the driver was identified as one Tarkeshwar Singh (45) s/o Rajdeo Singh of Hijuguri Gaon, Tinsukia Margherita.

Assam.

The vehicle was found bearing the insignia of Army Brigadier (VIP flagpost and one star) .

One nameplate written as 'ARMY' on one side and 'MINISTRY OF DEFENCE' on the other side was also found inside the vehicle.

Since the vehicle was without any escort and the driver was driving alone, the vehicle was checked thoroughly.

During the checking 17 packets of opium were found concealed in a compartment under the rear right door of the vehicle.

On spot verification, it was established that the vehicle as well as the driver didn't belong to the army.

He used the insignia of the army and the nameplate only for evading police checking.

Tarkeshwar Singh was arrested and the 17 packets of opium weighing 15.350 Kg were seized along with the car (Innova) and its nameplate.

Two mobile phones, one black wallet containing Rs 5000 in cash, one PAN Card and one voter ID card were also seized by observing necessary formalities in presence of an Executive Magistrate.

The arrested person along with the seized items were later handed over to Senapati police station where a case was registered under relevant sections of ND&PS Act for further necessary legal action, said the sources.

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