Morung Express News
Dimapur | October 25
In a major development to the recovery of impounded drug from the IGP (CID), Nagaland, the IPS officer implicated in the case was placed under suspension today.
The Home Commissioner, Nagaland, Abhijit Singh, while confirming this, told The Morung Express that the order was issued on October 25 placing IGP (CID) Richard Yimto under suspension “with immediate effect.”
Secrecy surrounded the case until The Morung Express published a news report on the matter on October 14. The news report, based on internal departmental communication memos, stated that brown sugar weighing 6.9kg was seized by the police Narcotics personnel on August 3 at the Khuzama inter-state check-post, bordering Manipur. The drug haul however did not enter the official records as demanded by protocol only to be later recovered from the official quarters of Yimto in Phesama on September 1.
The suspension order quoted a report of the Director General of Police, Nagaland to the Home Department outlining the details of the case as was revealed by a departmental inquiry. The order cited the Home Department receiving a report from the DGP dated October 17, which was received on October 22.
As per the DGP’s October 17 report, the matter came to the knowledge of the Nagaland Police Headquarters on August 25 subsequent to which the DGP ordered the ADGP (Law & Order) to inquire into the case.
“Accordingly, the officer after investigation submitted the detail report on 01-09-2018 which revealed the involvement of Shri Richard Yimto, IPS, IGP (CID) Nagaland, where he has flouted all due processes of law.”
The protocols flouted included “no General Diary reference” of the confiscation of the contraband brown sugar as required, not registering a criminal case, releasing two persons and the car from which the contraband was recovered and keeping the contraband in the personal custody of the IGP (CID) and not in the Narcotic Cell “malkhana” (storage). Citing the procedural lapses as was found by the inquiry and as conferred by the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, the order said that Yimto is being suspended and disciplinary proceeding against the officer contemplated. It further stated that during the “period that this order shall remain in force,” Yimto’s base will be the PHQ, Kohima and cannot leave the PHQ without obtaining prior permission of the competent authority.
The Home Commissioner, when queried on the possible involvement of other officers, replied that so far only Yimto has been implicated. On the terms of reference of the inquiry as contemplated, he said that it will be based on the charges framed against the officer.
The PHQ, when contacted, responded that it was yet to receive the order from the Home Department. “As soon as we get the official hard copy of the order, charges will be framed against the officer,” said the ADGP (Law & Order) Renchamo Kikon.
The DGP also confirmed of the Home Department issuing the order while adding that an FIR has also been filed in connection to the recovery of the impounded drug from Yimto’s residence.
