Manipur Drug Case 2018: Two convicts get 15 years' rigorous imprisonment & Fine of Rs 1 Lacs each

Imphal: A special court of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotic Substances (ND and PS) in Manipur has announced the final verdict of the 2018 drug haul case, serving the two convicts with 15 years of rigorous imprisonment. The convicts, Thangminlun Zou and Tunkhan Mung Zou have also been punished with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh each to be paid within a year, failing which they will be sentenced with 6 more months of rigorous imprisonment. 

The ND and PS verdict comes after the court's recent development in the case, where seven other accused individuals were acquitted on December 17. On the same day, the special court had convicted Thangminlun and Tunkhan under Section 21(c)/29 of the ND&PS Act, 1985 and under Section 29 read with Section 21(c)/29 of the ND&PS Act respectively. The special ND and PS Court which was headed by Judge W Tonen Meitei had also ordered jail authorities to produce the two convicts before law on December 21 when their final punishment would be declared.

Reportedly, Thangminlun, who is thirty years old, hails from Lunmual village in Churachandpur district of Manipur, while nineteen years old Tunkhan is a resident of the border town of Moreh in Tengnoupal district. 

Notably, former Autonomous District Council (ADC), Chandel chairman Lhukhosei Zou and six others were acquitted of all charges on December 17 despite being involved in the same case of seizure of drugs worth around Rs 27 crore. The addictive substances were seized from different places including the official residence of 51 year old Lhukhosei in 2018. The acquittal was declared by the court on account of "totally failing to prove the charges levelled against them."

Additional SP Brinda, who had led the operation in 2018 had later returned her "Chief Minister's Police Medal for Gallantry" saying that the award could be given to more deserving and loyal police officers.

As per reports, the acquittal of Lhukhosei and his associates as well as the severe punishment given to the two convicts is seen by the public as a case of scapegoating the powerless while the powerful one could go about in his political career and illicit activities.

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