Drug mafias taking advantage of Meitei-Kuki conflicts in Manipur

 STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Drug mafias, belonging to neither Meitei nor Kuki, are out to take advantage of the laxity in various aspects of checking while putting in place a 100 percent security blanket to prevent the further escalation of the Meitei-Kuki conflict in Manipur.

According to sources in the Assam Police, the security personnel deployed in Manipur have their total focus on not allowing any elements inimical to the restoration of peace in Manipur. With their total focus on the movements of Meitei and Kuki elements, the security personnel are lax on other aspects of checking, like smuggling by non-Manipuri and non-Kuki people.

According to Kalyan Kumar Pathak, Additional SP (HQ), Kamrup, acting on a tip-off, an STF (Special Task Force) team laid a trap and arrested Mafizul Haque (34) of Garigaon under Jalukbari Police Station at Sonapur last night. The STF personnel seized around two kg of heroin worth Rs 16 crore concealed in 145 soap boxes from his possession. The information received was that Garigaon and Baihata-based narcotics dealers would strike a deal either in the Amingaon or Palashbari areas. The suppliers from Manipur (who were to deliver the contraband) had even selected and visited the areas for unloading the contraband. However, at the last moment, they decided to offload the consignment at Sonapur. Accordingly, the vendee was travelling in a Honda City (AS01BL2211). Police personnel tried to stop the vehicle of the peddler at the Sonapur Tollgate. However, the peddler tried to escape, for which the police had to fire one round.

The police caught Mafizul Haque.

According to Pathak, the consignment was from the Kangpokpi district in Manipur. The STF registered a case (6/2023) to this effect.

Mafizul Haque was arrested by Jalukbari Police earlier in drug-related cases.

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