[caption id="attachment_108308" align="alignleft" width="225"]
The accused under Kohima South Police Station cusdody.[/caption]
Dimapur, April 10 (EMN): Kohima police manning Phesama check gate on April 9, intercepted one Dimapur bound Tata Winger bearing registration number MN01G-0500, and recovered opium (latex) weighing approximately 975 grams, from the possession of one Army personnel identified as Nathu Ram, Havildar, ‘F’ Coy, 21 Assam Rifles, posted in Ukhrul, Manipur, son of Budharam of Bupalghat village, Jodhpur, Rajasthan.
Sub-Divisional Police Officer (NPS), Atu Zumvü stated that during checking, the accused was acting suspicious and on enquiring, he identified himself as Assam Rifles personnel. He said initial attempt to check the luggage of the accused was denied claiming that police cannot check Armed Force personnel.
Since there have been instances where Armed Forces personnel were involved in smuggling narcotics drugs from Manipur in the past, the police personnel went on to check the luggage of the suspect and recovered the contraband opium, he stated
He said the opium was found neatly packed in 2 Everyday milk packets and 8 golden tobacco packets.
The accused revealed that he purchased the suspected contraband for Rs. 55,000 from Manipur and was smuggling it to his native village.
In this connection, a criminal case vide Kohima South PS Case No. 0027/17 U/S 22 (c) NDPS Act has been registered against him for further investigation.
