Imphal, February 06: Chickens meant for supply to the Leimakhong army base smuggled with certificate valid for supplying chicken to army units located in Assam and Nagaland only were impounded by police today inside the State.

The State Government has already banned import of chicken and other poultry products from other States of India in the wake of bird flu outbreak in West Bengal.

According to State Nodal Officer of bird flu control measures Dr K Gopalsana, about one month old 764 chickens imported through Mao Gate along NH 39 were impounded by Sapermeina police at around 10 am today.

The chickens which were handed over to the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry Department were buried after exterminating them in the compound of the Department's Broiler Farm located at Porompat this afternoon.

As per the police report furnished to the Veterinary Department, the banned chickens were imported in a Tata DI (NL 07/2223) driven by one Md Khalim (35) of Signal Basti, Dimapur.

Police also recovered a certificate (no 158/7ST-5) for supplying chickens to army units located in Nagaland and Assam.

The certificate was issued by the Army Supply Corps, Zakhama Nagaland in June last year.

As per the certificate, the contractor for supplying chickens is one Deepak Yadav and to driver authorised to deliver the supply is one Sandeep Pal of Lorhorijan, Golahgat road, Dimapur.

Out of the 754 chickens brought for supplying to the Leimakhong army base, 15 were found dead.

The seizure of imported chickens near Imphal after crossing Mao and Jiribam has raised serious doubts on coordination and co-operation among different Departments of the State to enforce the ban on importing poultry and poultry products.