The 2nd Pallel Drug Haul
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 30, 2013 -

In yet another proof of involvement of high profile individuals in drug dealings, an eleven-member team of Manipur Police Commandos including two officers, one in the rank of a Sub-Inspector and the other a Jamadar, has been caught red-handed while trying to smuggle out drugs(Pseudoephedrine tablets, to be precise) into Moreh from Pallel yesterday (April 28).

The latest incident has come about even as the public anger over the State administration's inept handling of the cases of drug seizure from Imphal Airport on January 11 last, Mantripukhri drug seizure on February 15 and the Pallel drug haul in which a consignment of drugs worth more than Rs 15 crores was seized from the possession of the then PRO Defence Wing Col Ajay Chowdhry and six other persons on February 24 last is still raging without any tangible solution in sight.

Despite strong public suspicion over possible network in drug dealings and the names of some dear and near ones of high profile politicians in the State doing the around, the State administration has not been simple able find out (or rather trying to conceal) the real identities of those involved in the cases of drug seizure from the Airport and Mantripukhri.

But Col Ajay Chowdhry and his six accomplices have not been so lucky with their pictures and misdeeds flashed all over, but, thankfully, their revelation led to the arrest of a son of a former Minister and present MLA in the ruling Congress Government, thus, confirming the public suspicion over involvement of 'not ordinary people' in the never ending problem of drug menace in Manipur.

While questions were being raised over the hurried manner in which the 'lone and highly effective' Special Intelligence Unit (SIU) of Imphal West district had been abolished within a few days of the Airport drug seizure and the young Police Inspector, who led the SIU team in the successful exploit , got transferred instead of rewarding him as well as over the silence of the State administration on the Mantripukhri drug case; Thoubal Police Commandos have done a good job in the latter two cases in revealing the mask over the faces of those involved in drug smuggling cases.

In fact, in appreciation of their duty and service, the team involved in the Pallel drug haul had been subsequently given the reward they deserved so richly.

Nonetheless, one nagging question that still remains in the mind of the public in the latest case is why the identities of all the 11 accused Police Commandos, with exception to the two involved police officers, and the exact quantity of the drug seized have not been laid bare unlike in the case of Col Ajay Chowdhry and his party?

And, what is the meaning that the remaining nine personnel cannot be termed as accused in real sense of the term since they were being used by the two police officers?

How could Thoubal Police Commandos jump into such just conclusion without being tried in a law court first?

On top of trying to conceal the identities of all the accused, such immature comments would definitely take away the reputation that Thoubal Police Commandos have built up so hard in the minds and hearts of the people. Keep that in mind.