CADA vice-president Ningthoujam Doren said that the recent comment of chief minister N Biren Singh is contrary to the widespread agitation of the people, and it is in total disregard and disrespect for the people of Manipur.
TFM Desk
Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) vice president Ningthoujam Doren on Tuesday slammed the Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh for his comment that the government has started looking into whether there were loopholes from the department or government’s side despite the public outcry and widespread protests against the acquittal of Lhukhosei Zou, demanding the government to approach higher court.
Biren had categorically ruled out going to higher court against the verdict of special ND&PS court acquitting former ADC chairman of Chandel Lhukhosei Zou and six others in connection with a 2018 multi-crore drug seizure case.
In an interview aired by a local TV cable news channel on Sunday, Biren said that there are many cases for which there are demands for appeal to higher court. “It will be a burden if the government appeals all these cases,” he added.
However, the government has started looking into whether there were loopholes from the department or government’s side, he had said.
The CADA vice president was speaking at a sit-in against the acquittal of Lhukhosei Zou held at Bazar shed Khongman Okram Chuthek, Imphal East on Wednesday jointly organised by the Chanurasing gi Yaipha Lup and CADA Imphal East District Committee, a release said.
Doren further said that the comment of the chief minister is contrary to the widespread agitation of the people, and it is in total disregard and disrespect for the people of Manipur. It also shows that the chief minister doesn’t want total eradication of drugs from the state, he added.
Instances since the beginning of Investigation in the case like lost of remnants of drug samples, the non-disclosure of the enquiry report into the matter, the mysterious “kidnapping” of Lhukhosei Zou from a highly fortified security ward of JNIMS by an unknown Myanmar based militants, etc have created apprehension amongst the people that there might be a major collusion to free Lhukhosei Zou, he asserted.
The release further added that a sit-in was also staged at Lamjao Makha Leikai Meira Shang, Kakching district jointly organised by The Thoubal District United Women Development Organisation (Thoubal Ima), Lamjao Apunba Meira Paibi Lup and CADA Kakching District Committee. CADA secretary organisation Mayengbam Budhi spoke about the issue.
Slogans like “Punish drug smugglers”, “Ban drugs in the state completely”, amongst others were also shouted by the protestors, it added.