Over 2 kgs of brown sugar seized at Kangpokpi, 3 held

By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Jul 13 : In a major drug bust in the State, security forces recently arrested three persons and seized 2.193 kilograms of brown sugar in Kangpokpi district.
The three arrested have been identified as Ginminlen Haokip (24), Holminlen Khongsai (29) and Seigoumang Haolai alias Simon Haolai.
Ginminlen Haokip is the son of Semkhohen Haokip of G Phalbung, Motbung, Kangpokpi district.
Holminlen Khongsai (29) is son of Doujapao Khongsai of Khangbarol village, Pallel, Chandel district.
Seigoumang Haolai alias Simon Haolai is son of Paolet Haolai of Ward No 4 Kangpokpi.
Ginminlen Haokip and Holminlen Khongsai were arrested on July 9 with the contraband drugs, and Seigoumang Haolai was arrested later in connection with the case on July 11.
All the three arrested persons have been remanded to police custody till July 22.
From the possession of Ginminlen Haokip and Holminlen Khongsai, security forces led by personnel of New Keithelmanbi police station, on July 9, seized a total of 196 soap cases containing brown sugar weighing 2.193 kilograms.
A report, submitted by ASI Akbar Huissain to the Officer in-Charge New Keithelmanbi police station, said that the  brown sugar was seized during an operation carried out following a reliable input.
At 10 am of July 9, the police received reliable input that Ginminlen Haokip, one of the two arrested, was about to transport contraband brown sugar from Churachandpur to Kangpokpi in a black Scorpio vehicle, said the report.
Acting on the information, a combined team of New Keithelmanbi police led by Kangpokpi ASP(Ops), Noney police, Assam Rifles and CRPF launched an operation.
The combined security forces conducted frisking and checking at Tupul bridge leading to Pongringlong village, located about 28 kilometres west of New Keithelmanbi police station.
At around 1 pm, the security forces intercepted one black Scorpio without registration number coming from Churachandpur towards Kangpokpi for verification.
On spot enquiry, the driver and the co-driver of the Scorpio were identified as Holminlen Khongsai and Ginminlen Haokip respectively.
The two were then taken to Noney police station for further verification.
At the police station, Ginminlen Haokip denied presence of contraband drugs inside his vehicle at first. However, he later revealed that there were contraband items kept concealed on the roof-top of the Scorpio vehicle which had been modified as a chamber, said the report.
In the presence of Executive Magistrate, Thuankimlak Newmai, the police searched the Scorpio vehicle and found a total of 196 soap cases containing suspected brown sugar concealed inside the chamber on the roof of the vehicle.
The police then seized the suspected brown sugar weighing 2.193 kilograms  and arrested Ginminlen Haokip and Holminlen Khongsai.
The police also seized the Scorpio vehicle and several other items including mobile phones. The police have registered a case under ND&PS Act, and the items seized have been handed over to New Keithelmanbi police station for further investigation and legal action.