(Photo: Manipur Police)
Imphal, July 25 (IANS) A 56-year-old woman was arrested by the Manipur Police in Churachandpur district for allegedly routing a huge amount of money to suspected beneficiaries of the illegal drug trade in Myanmar, officials said on Saturday.
In a separate development, Director General of Police (DGP) Mukesh Singh, accompanied by the Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), visited the India-Myanmar border in Manipur's Tengnoupal district and reviewed security preparedness, policing and inter-agency coordination.
A senior police official said that, in continuation of the investigation into an FIR registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, at Churachandpur police station, police arrested the woman, identified as Zenngaihniang (56), a resident of New Lamka in Churachandpur district. An amount of over Rs 28.78 lakh, suspected to be proceeds of drug-related crime, was recovered from her possession.
“The arrestee is involved in sending huge amounts of money to suspected beneficiaries of the drug trade in Myanmar. Five cash registers and a cash-counting machine were also recovered from her possession,” the official said.
The mountainous Churachandpur district shares an inter-state border with Mizoram and an unfenced international border with Myanmar.
Meanwhile, in separate operations, the security forces recovered a large cache of arms and ammunition from Imphal West district. The recovered items included 12 pistols with magazines, four rifles, two modified .303 rifles, four bolt-action single-barrel guns, four hand grenades, including one of Chinese origin, three detonators, assorted live rounds and empty cases, 15 barrel cartridges, magazines, military fatigues, bulletproof jackets, magazine pouches and wireless communication sets.
The security forces also arrested an active cadre of the banned Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) militant outfit from Wangoo Sandangkhong area in Kakching district. The arrested militant was identified as Moirangthem Gandhi alias Loingamba Singh (19).
The police official said that DGP Mukesh Singh, during his visit to Tengnoupal district along the India-Myanmar border, reviewed the overall security preparedness, policing arrangements and inter-agency coordination.
At the Tengnoupal District Police Office, the DGP reviewed the prevailing security situation and policing arrangements in the strategically important border district.
According to the police official, while interacting with officers of the district police, Singh stressed the need for sustained operations against anti-national elements, effective investigation of criminal cases, intensified anti-drug measures, recovery of illegal arms and ammunition, and close coordination among all security agencies to ensure peace and security in the border district.
During his visit to Moreh town, the DGP interacted with representatives of various communities, including the Tamil, Kuki, Nepali and Meitei Pangal communities, as well as members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). People belonging to the Tamil, Nepali, Kuki and Meitei Pangal (Muslim) communities have been residing in the border town of Moreh for several decades.
The DGP also held interaction sessions with Commandants of Assam Rifles battalions, along with officers of the Assam Rifles and Manipur Police Commandos. During the meeting, he reviewed the prevailing security scenario, operational preparedness, border management and inter-agency coordination, while emphasising the importance of continued synergy among all security forces deployed in the sensitive border region.
Singh further visited Gate No. 1 and Gate No. 2 at Moreh to review the security arrangements and deployment at the international border crossing.
Moreh is an important border town and an international trading hub located on the India-Myanmar border in Tengnoupal district, around 110 km from the Manipur capital, Imphal. On his return journey, the Manipur Police chief visited Kwatha village, where he interacted with Meitei villagers as well as officers and personnel of the district police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) and the Assam Rifles deployed in the area.
“The visit reaffirmed the commitment of the Manipur Police and all security agencies towards strengthening border security, enhancing inter-agency coordination and ensuring lasting peace and public safety,” the police official said.
