Close on the heels of the arrest of a police constable along with three kgs of brown sugar, a havildar who has been found escorting three drug traffickers was arrested while 10,000 WY tablets were seized from the possession of the traffickers by a team of Churachandpur district police on Thursday.
The havildar who was found escorting the drug traffickers is one Ashangbam Keshorjit Singh, 40, son of late A Setyabanta Singh of Keisamthong Elangbam Leikai.
Police said that Keshorjit is posted as a havildar at 1st Manipur Rifles, presently attached at Kakching district commando unit. He has been arrested from Khudekpi area near Moirang Lamkai and while his car (Creta, registration number MN04A- 5099) has been seized.
The remaining three drug traffickers were also arrested. They have been identified as one Md Wahidur Rahman, 47, son of late Tayeb Ali of Lilong Tairen Makhong; Md Mujahid, 19, son of late Md Rafizuddin of Lilong Haoreibi Makha Leikai; and Sarita, 35, wife of Wahidur Rahman of Lilong Tairen Makhong.
Police reported that acting on a tip-off about an unknown person along with his wife on their way to Churachandpur to purchase contraband drugs, a team of district police led by its officer-in-charge, N Ingocha Singh along with another two teams conducted frisking and checking along the Churachandpur road.
During the operation, Wahudur along with his wife and Mujahid who were coming in a silver coloured Alto car, bearing registration number MH14BK- 5448 were detained at around 7.40 pm.
On examining the said vehicle, 15 cartons containing 10,000 WY tablets were detected from their possession. Police said the seized WY tablets would worth around Rs. 1.5 lakh in the local market and might worth around Rs 75 lakh at the international market.
The illegal drugs were seized while the three drug peddlers were also arrested at the spot in presence of two independent witnesses and executive magistrate, police said.
It also came to light during investigation that havildar Keshorjit was escorting the seized drug smugglers. A regular case has been registered against them for investigation.
Meanwhile, a police constable was arrested and suspended from his service for possession of three kg suspected brown sugar in Manipur, sources said on Friday.
Police said the NAB team arrested a man and seized three kg suspected brown sugar during a surprise frisking and checking operation conducted at Purum Likli area along Imphal-Saikul Road in Kangpokpi district on June 15, at around 3.40 pm.
The arrested person was identified as one Seilenthang Kilong, 31, son of one Thangkhosat Kilong of Thangkanphai Village under Saikul in Kangpokpi district, police said, adding that on further verification, he was found to be a police constable posted at Reserve Line, Bishnupur district.
The NAB team also recovered from his possession two mobile phone handsets, Poco, with a SIM card each, one Service Identity Card issued by SP Bishnupur and an Activa BS VIG Blue in colour without registration number.
Police said the frisking and checking operation was done as a part of the state government War on Drugs 2.0. Following the arrest and the seizures, a case has been registered at NAB PS and the constable placed under suspension, police said, adding further investigation is underway.
