IMPHAL, May 28: Personnel of 20 Assam Rifles today seized four vehicles fully loaded with zarda on the heels of the state police seizing of a vehicle of zarda on May 13 along with the four drivers.
According to a source, the four vehicles were seized from an area of Larong village by a column of 20 Assam Rifles deployed for counter-insurgency operations (CIOPS) and maintaining Law and Order in Chandel District today afternoon around 3:30pm.
The four were trying to smuggle the zarda loaded trucks into Moreh by taking advantage of movement of few passers-by due to a drizzle at about 3:30 pm, this late afternoon.
Out of four vehicles, two were Shaktiman trucks bearing registration nos MN-04/A-0446 and MN-04/1A-7899. The drivers of two vehicles are identified only as Anglin of Sugnu and Krishnamohon of Kakching.
The other two vehicles are Tata Sumos bearing registration numbers MN-01-4461 and MN-04/A-498 respectively and the two drivers arebeing identified as Roshan of Moreh and Momo of Pallel.
The seized zarda along with drivers were officially handed over to the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Chandel.
However, the approximate value of the seized zardas could not be ascertained till the filing of this report.
It may be mentioned that as per the order issued by Deputy Commissioners of various districts of the state since some time back, smokeless tobacco products have been banned in their respective districts.