IMPHAL, February 28: The State Director General of Police Manipur, Yumnam Joykumar has finally broken his silence over the incidence of drug trafficking in the state.
Addressing a press conference at the Conference Hall of the state police Headquarters at Imphal today, the DGP said that the state police will ensure that anyone involved in the drug related cases of the state will not be spared.
“We will take action against anyone involved, regardless of whether the person is a MLA, Minister or related to any official,” he said.
Stating that the state police has been doing its duty with full determination regarding the drug related cases of the state, the DGP said that in the past few months, the state police have recovered many banned drug items along with the owner of the drug consignments.
“But in some cases, the state police are not able to trace or arrest the real owner of the drug consignment which were brought in the state through cargo freight through flight or through parcels or courier items as the addresses of the sender and the person in whose name such items are being sent are often fictitious ,” he continued.
Calling for a comprehensive and concerted effort to tackle drug trafficking, he said, ” Drugs are an issue not just for the state but for the entire country. ”
He further briefed the media that the state police has sent official letters to those concerned under the Civil Aviation sector in order to step up its vigil against consignments headed to the state. “We are in touch with our counterparts in different states of the country to nab those who are sending in drug consignments to the state,” he added.
Hinting at a closer partnership with the Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) in handling and investigating drug related cases, he said, “The state police department is not able to keep up with tackling the drug issue as the state security personnel are mostly involved in the state counter insurgency operations.”
Affirming the critical nature of the issue, the DGP said that he was already in consultations with RK Shahu, Deputy Director of the Narcotic Control Bureau, Eastern Division who is already in Imphal.
“The NCB has given a full assurance to the state police department that it will provide us assistance in our joint efforts to control the drug trade,” he said.
When asked by the media regarding the development in the investigations of the 24 February Pallel drug case, in which a Defense Wing PRO Col Ajay chowdhary and 5 others were arrested with a huge consignment of illegal drugs worth Rs 15 Crores, the DGP answered that investigations were ongoing.
He further added that investigations had led to the disclosure of the involvement of Saikholen Haokip, the son of MLA T N Haokip in the case.
He further said that the full investigations in the drug related cases will be under his supervision and with other senior police officers.
When asked the whereabouts of the Army Colonel, the DGP said that Ajay Chowdhury is under the custody of the State Police and has not been handed over to the Army since the arrest took place outside of his official duty discharge at time of arrest.