Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, May 05 2009:
The Manipur Chemists' and Druggists' Association (MCDA) has nabbed two alleged unauthorised medicine dealers who trade on supplying drugs to people or agent without any authorisation in an illegal manner.
Producing the two persons before media persons today at the MCDA office located at Rupmahal Tank, the MCDA said the two have been trading on illegal transaction of medicines in the state apart from dealing in counterfeit drugs.
The two illegal dealers have been Sagar Prasad (27) son of Shanker Prasad of Telepati, and who is also the proprietor of Nirmal Medical Store at Paona Bazar, and Ranu Malakand (20) son of Goura Malakand of Saiton, a salesman at Navjiban Pharmacy, Thangal Bazar.
According to the revelation made by the MCDA, Ranu Malakand steals the drugs from the pharmacy where he is employed and the stolen drugs were sold by Sagar Prasad at his pharmacy.
He also uses to supply counterfeit medicines to agent when some wholesalers fail to meet the demands.
Sagar had purchased Ranu a Nokia brand mobile handset for Rs 9000 to keep the illegal business flourishing.
So far medicines worth 2.5 lakh have been sold in the business, according to the MCDA.
The matter comes to light when the proprietor of Navjivan Pharmacy, Rajen Jain became suspicious of his salesman.
Both the accused have also admitted to have committed the offense.
Sagar Prasad is said to have been into the unauthorised trade since the last 7/8 years.
Most of the counterfeited drugs which Sagar sold at much lower prices are mostly of kidney and cancer drugs, the MCDA said.
As such, the MCDA has decided to penalise the Nirmal Medical Store by expelling it from the membership of MCDA and to request the Medical Directorate to nullify the license.
It also decided to hand them over to the police.