IMPHAL, May 14: A huge amount of banned Zarda was found from six persons upon checking near Pallel Police station gate. The Zarda consignment was being carried in two vehicles yesterday at about 11.30 pm.
The checking was conducted by district police, Thoubal led by Inspector A Khelendro Singh, OC and Kh Niranjoy Singh, SI of Pallel PS under the supervision of Ak Jhalajit Singh, SP Thoubal.
Briefing media persons today, K Meghachandra SDPO Yairipok and Ghanshaym Sharma SDPO said that 200 carton boxes of `Parizat Zarda` containing a total of 60,000 pieces with a printed price of Rs 48. They were recovered from a Tata truck ( Model no. 1109 H bearing Regd No. MN 02A/5102).
Its occupants were Lathangliana Mizo (35) s/o Ramliana Mizo of Churachandpur Hmuia Veng, driver of the vehicle; Thangboi Paite (23) s/o Paokhanlian Paite of Gouchinkhup Veng, New Lamka, Churachandpur and Lhingboi Lupheng (35) w/o Thongmang Lupheng of Moreh Ward No. 7, Canan Veng.
Another 80 cartoons boxes of Parizat Zarda containing 24,000 pieces of Zarda; 15 carton boxes of BABA Zarda, containing 3,600 pieces with printed price of Rs. 65 per piece; 44 cartoons of 350 Signal (small size) Zarda, totaling 52,800 pieces with printed price of Rs. 55 per piece and 6 cartoons of 350 Signal (Big size) Zarda, totaling 1800 pieces with printed price of Rs. 250 per piece were recovered from the second truck, Tata Model No. 909 EX bearing Regd No. MN07-T/0036.
Its occupants were Sapam Somorjit Singh (25) s/o (L) S. Borsingh of Khongjom Sapam Leikai, driver of the vehicle; Chonsei Lupheng (33) s/o Paothang Lupheng, Moreh Ward no. 7, Canan Veng; and Jamkhoson Touthang (28) s/o Tongmang Touthang, Moreh Ward No. 7, Canan Veng.
The detained persons along with the seized articles have been handed over to the Food Safety Officer, Thoubal for taking further necessary action under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. The total quantity of Zarda seized from the two vehicles stands at 345 with the total amount of printed price on the seized items amounting to Rs 76,20,000. However, the price of the said items could double in the black market considering the ban being imposed on its sale.
It may be noted that the Government of Manipur, Secretariat Health Department vide Notification No. 15/52/88-M(FSSA)Pt. dated 26th of February 2013 has enforced a ban on the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution, display, sale and purchase of Gutkha, Khaini, Zarda, Pan Masala and other chewable, smokeless tobacco products containing tobacco or nicotine food ingredients as unsafe food injurious to health, by whatsoever name it is available in the market, in the state of Manipur in the interest of Public health.