IE police seize heroin, recover arms

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Oct 18 : A team of Imphal East district commando arrested two drug peddlers and seized arms and ammos in two separate incidents today.
Heroin worth around Rs 60 lakh in the international market and arms and ammunition suspected to be used in the October 11 night firing incident at Andro Maringthel were seized from the drug peddlers, said SP Imphal East N Herojit in a press conference held at SP Imphal East conference hall this afternoon.
Briefing media persons, the SP stated that acting on specific information about the presence of some drug peddlers in Hatta area, the team of Imphal East commando carried out a frisking and checking operation at Hatta area near Public hospital under his supervision.
During the operation, one diesel auto coming from the Checkon side toward Minuthong in a suspicious nature was detained for checking and verification at around 3.40 am.
While searching the vehicle, the commando team recovered and seized 40 soap cases containing 600 grams of heroin worth more than Rs 60 lakh in the international market from the roof of the vehicle. Two occupants of the vehicle identified as Ayajuddin Chesam (37) son of (L) Amu Chesam of Sora Makha leikai and Md Abdullah Khan (27), son of (L) Abdul Khan of Sekmaijin Bazar were arrested on the spot by observing necessary formalities, the SP said.
The arrested persons along with the seized drug items were handed over to Porompat police station for necessary legal action under the ND&PS Act, he said.
Today's seizure is a part of the measures taken up to curb the drug menace in the Imphal East district, the SP added.
The SP further stated that in another incident, the same team of Imphal East commandos were able to recover arms and ammunition kept hidden at Andro Chingthak this morning. The arms are suspected to be used in the October 11 night firing incident at Andro Maringthel, he said.
He said that after the October 11 night incident, a commando team of Imphal East along with a column of 16 Assam Rifles have been conducting mobile frisking checking and search operation at Maringthel and its surrounding area as there was report of frequent gunfire at night time.
In continuation of the operation, the combined team of commando and AR recovered one transparent polythene bag containing one local made AK Rifle with magazine, two 9mm pistol with magazine, two wireless sets, 15 live rounds of AK Rifle, 21 live rounds of 9mm pistol, 18 number of detonators and 15 empty cases of assorted ammunition this morning at around 9.35 am, the SP said.
The arrested persons along with seized drugs and recovered arms and ammunition were displayed before the media persons after the media briefing.