Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) to aid police in Pallel drug haul probe
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, February 28 2013: Assuring that stern action would be taken up against all the individuals involved in the recent drug haul at Pallel, Director General of Police (DGP) Y Joykumar has informed that Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) would be assisting the State police in investigation into the case to find out the real owners of the drug consignment worth more than Rs 15 crores.

Briefing media persons at the office of Superintendant of Police, Imphal West here today, DGP Joykumar said that CBN has agreed to help the State police in investigation into the drug scandal in which PRO (Defence Wing) Colonel Ajay Chowdhry; Saikholen Haokip, son of MLA TN Haokip and five others have been arrested so far.

Acknowledging the fact that Manipur Police Commandos are not well trained for investigation into drug related cases but are well equipped or trained for counter insurgency operations, the Police chief explained that the assistance of the CBN has been sought taking into consideration of this fact so that there is no room for any loophole in the investigation process.

The DGP disclosed that Deputy Director of CBN (Eastern Region) RK Sahu, who is presently in Imphal to take stock of the case, has conveyed that the case related to the drug haul at Pallel could not be altogether taken over by CNB since there is a rule that such drug cases should be handled by an agency which has been there from the beginning.

So, the case would remain in the hands of State Police and CBN would be there to assist in the investigation process.

Observing that the problem of drugs is not just an issue of the State but a national issue, the DGP said that accordingly, the DGP of CBN has been requested to take up necessary measures for controlling the menace of drugs in Manipur as well.

Moreover, the Civil Aviation Ministry has been requested in written to take up stringent measures to control drug smuggling into the State via air cargo and the Ministry has responded positively, the DGP informed.

Admitting that the State Police have not been not been able to identity real owners of the drugs seized from Imphal Airport and Pallel owing to wrong addresses given, DGP Y Joykumar, however, maintained that after meeting the Deputy Director of CBN, there is high hope that real owners of the drugs seized would be known in due course of time.

"The companies or the manufacturing units of the drugs seized from the Airport and Pallel have been known and it has come to the knowledge of the investigating team that the drug consignments could be sent in only through authorized dealers in the State.

Moreover, no drugs without the recipient's name could be transported through a courier service.

Otherwise, it would be considered an illegal act and legal action could be taken up against such courier service agency", the DGP said, adding that necessary legal action would be taken up in this regard very soon.

Furthermore, the police chief made it clear that during his tenure as the DGP, no person involved in drug smuggling, regardless of whether they are high profile politicians or high ranking police officers, would be spared.

However, charging others for involvement in drug scam without any proof and evidence is very unfortunate, he hastened to add.

Replying to a query, DGP Y Joykumar stated that there has been no proposal from the side of Indian Army for handing over Colonel Ajay Chowdhry for court-martial trial.

Even if there is any such proposal, State Police would not accept and never hand him over to the Indian Army.

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