Cabinet decides stringent action to curb drug menace in state

IMPHAL, May 10: A cabinet meeting held at the Chief Minister’s secretariat resolved to enact stringent laws to curb the menace of drug smuggling. In this effect , an Assembly Session is scheduled to be held on June 10.

The spokesperson of the SPF Government, Minister Moirangthem Okendro stated that the government has appraised the proliferation of drugs from outside the state to Myanmar via Manipur. "There has been significant arrest made and much contraband drugs seized but the kingpin remains at large," he said while saying that the cabinet in a marathon sitting commencing from 3pm till 8 pm deliberated on various pressing issues. Okendo said that the cabinet meeting today deliberated at length on the operation of drug trafficking in the state.

He maintained that the law has been void in booking the concerned kingpins and the cabinet hence resolved to put up the agenda in the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly sittings and further to pass a bill in this regard. As a precursor , the bill to be introduced will contain stringent laws adhering to the NDPS Act and with the authority of seizing the property of the accused/smuggler along with other financial possessions. The Bill will also urge the judiciary to hold the accused in the drug racket responsible and further to keep the accused in a prolonged jail term. “This will make the smugglers think twice before committing themselves in the nefarious trade, the Bill if so passed will assure that stringent punishment be meted to the offenders,” Okendro observed.

In further detail to the trafficking issue, the minister said that the case of the  11  Manipur Police personnel who has been incriminated with smuggling of drugs will be handed to the CBI shortly. “This is to ensure that the Government acts in a transparent manner and no favouritism occurs in administering justice. The guilty has to be punished as per the law,” he said and added that there is no hope of the guilty personnel involved in the drug transport being spared. "They will be terminated accordingly," he said.

It may be mentioned that the Thoubal Police arrested 11 police personnel with a huge haul of pseudo-ephedrine tablets and the officer who had ordered the transportation namely RK Binodjit had been arrested.
The cabinet in their decision today also decided to hike the pay of the VDF from Rs 3,000 to 4,000. There are a total of 10,500 VDF personnel deployed in the State.

The cabinet also  decided to hike the pay of college teachers according to their accreditation under UGC norms. A total of 355 teachers under group A will be paid Rs 21,600 per month effective from April last. The B category consisting of 76 teachers will receive 12,600 Rs per month and the same amount for Guest lecturers.

The cabinet also amended the Manipur Forest Act , 1986, the amendment of Juniour Manipur Civil Service Rules of 2007 and widening of NH 39.