Security personnel while checking a truck bearing Registration No. MNO4C 0671, unearthed 39 soap-cases (approximately 460 grams) of brown sugar in the vehicle. The truck was reportedly coming from Huimine Thana bordering Myanmar.
TFM Ukhrul Correspondent
The 24 Assam Rifles on 4 August 2023 apprehend three persons for carrying brown sugar. The three accused were handed over to Shangshak Police Station, Ukhrul District.
According to Ukhrul Police, the three persons were brought and handed over to Shangshak Police Station on 4 August 2023 at around 08:00pm by 24 Assam Rifles. And, accordingly, formal arrest was made by the Shangshak Police Station at around 09:00pm on the same day.
Investigating Officer, SI. S. Raingam informed that the accused persons were apprehended by 24 Assam Rifles at one of the check-post situated at Gamnom. The security personnel while checking the vehicle (Tata Truck) bearing Registration No. MNO4C 0671, unearthed 39 soap-cases (approximately 460 grams) of brown sugar drug in the vehicle. The truck was reportedly coming from Huimine Thana bordering Myanmar and carrying 12 buffaloes for transportation towards Nagaland.
According to their identity card, the three accused have been identified as Asebe Dime (41 years) son of N Jailang of Saijang Zalukei, Nagaland, Milan Ali (41 years) son of Shaban Ali of Karai Kheti Bazaar, Barpeta, Assam and Sanju Choudhury (38 years) son of Ajit Choudhury of Masjid Gali, PO-Noonmati, PS- Chandmari, Guwahati, Assam.
In this regard, Shangshak Police Station had registered an FIR No. 03(08)2023/SSK-PS U/S: 21(c)/29/60(3) ND&PS Act. According to Ukhrul Police the main accused Adebe Dime alias Mataimi AS. son of Joyson AS of Old Wahong, Ukhrul District, Manipur, truck driver Milan Ali and second driver Sanju Choudhury were produced to Chief Judicial Magistrate of Ukhrul through video conference on 5 August 2023 and were remanded to police custody for 7 days (till 11 August 2023). Investigating Officer, SI. S. Raingam informed that medical check up to the three accused were carried out at Ukhrul District Hospital on 5 August 2023 and the three accused will be taken to Joint Interrogation Cell (JIC), Imphal for further necessary interrogation. He asserted that details can be ascertained only after the joint interrogation, the contact and their destination.
In this regard, the Raizan Traders’ Association (RTA), Kamjong District, Manipur has lauded the yeomanship of the Assam Rifles in apprehending drugs at Gamnom check post, Kamjong district on 4 August 2023.
In a press communique issued by President of RTA, SD. Phareipam stated that “It is a known fact that the RTA has been working tirelessly to create an environment of healthy and friendly business relations across Indo-Myanmar communities at Kamjong district. However, a blot of such illicit trade transactions paralyzed the normal trading culture which is built in ages. To show our co-operation and effort in eradicating drug menace, the RTA stands with the state agencies and entire communities by condemning those involved in such contraband business.”
SD. Phareipam added “about 5km from Pillar Border No. 104, lies the Onzia Town, District Headquarters of Myanmar. The essential commodities including livestock are procured from this place by the traders.”
With the unrest in Manipur, has the road from Huimine Thana via Kamjong -Ukhrul is the new route for smuggling drugs to other state of India? Are some of the traders coming from other state who are ferrying buffaloes for meat consumption and other commodities from the Myanmar border is in collusion with the drug smugglers? Huimine Thana is about 34km from Kamjong Headquarters near International Border Pillar No. 104.