No brown sugar consignments were seized on December 27, 2017 by the Narcotics Affairs and Borders (NAB) police station, clarified state police department PRO W Basu in a release issued on Friday.
The police in a rebuttal to an ‘Imphal Free Press’ report published on Friday stated that on December 27, 2017 NAB-PS neither seized 1.7 kg of brown sugar nor 1.5 kg of brown sugar while transporting the same in an auto-rickshaw at the airport. The release said on January 4, 2018 on receipt of an information one sub-inspector of NAB, M Jiten that Mangkhom Keshokumar Singh, 37, son of Nipamacha of Kongba Makha Nandeibam Leikai, constable number 8090118 of Manipur Police department who is presently posted at NAB-PS had possessed some quantity of brown sugar, Jiten immediately seized 1.7 kg of brown sugar from the possession of Keshokumar from a residence of Konthoujam Roma Devi wife of late K Khellen Singh of Touthang Apheibi.
In connection with the incident, a case has been registered at NAB-PS under FIR number 02(01)2018 NAB-PS u/s21© NDP&PS Act. During investigation Keshokumar disclosed that he had snatched two packets of brown sugar at the airport from one auto-rickshaw driver on December 27, 2017 in his personal capacity with an ulterior motive and without informing superior officers and brought the said brown sugar at his residence.
The release further mentioned that Keshokumar also disclosed that he had released the auto driver on payment of Rs 3 lakh. Later he was contacted by one SI Amitabh of Imphal West district and told him that one Basiruddin of Tamenglong police station would like to meet and accordingly they met at Lambulane. It said after meeting Basiruddin, Keshokumar reportedly negotiated with Basiruddin on December 30, 2017 and handed over one packet containing 1.5 kg of brown sugar and ask him to deliver to the owner of the drug, it added.
Keshokumar divided the drugs containing 1.7 kg of brown sugar into 1 kg and 700 gram separately and kept at the residence of Roma. The event came ot light only after registration of the instant FIR case and on disclosure of Keshokumar during investigation, release added.
As a part of the investigation Basiruddin was also arrested and he disclosed that the 1.5 kg of brown sugar was handed over him by Keshokumar and further handing over to the owner of the drug namely, Ahameduddin of Lilong Lou Manga on December 31, 2017 and he had subsequently handed over to the owner, said the release.
It said the arrest of real owner of the drug could not be effected as he had absconded from police. Due legal process was observed during the course of investigation and Ahameduddin was declared as a proclaimed offender by the designated court for which the trial is in progress.
Regarding the registration of new FIR for the case of 1.5 kg of brown sugar is not required as the said drug has not been recovered and owner of the drug as Ahameduddin is not arrested yet. Further course of investigation is to be done in the same FIR, said the release.
