Khonsa: The anti-drug squad of the Tirap police has arrested a panchayat leader from the Engineering Colony here for allegedly peddling drugs in the district headquarters.
The police along with the 36th battalion of CRPF stationed at Khonsa arrested one H. Besai, who is reportedly the gram panchayat member of Ngointhong Village, on the intervening night of January 30 and 31.
Police said based on credible inputs regarding an individual selling drugs in and around the Khonsa Township, the anti-drug squad of the Tirap police along with the CRPF raided a suspected house located at the Engineering Colony from where Besai was arrested.
Sensing the raid, Besai did try to flee the scene but was overpowered, the police said.
The police team led by inspector O. Rongrang also recovered around 6.04 grams of suspected heroin, one plastic container and a soap case containing traces of heroin, 20 empty vials, metallic foil and paper pipes, Rs 55,240/- cash and several other items from Besai’s possession.
“On initial investigation the peddler is learnt to be a gram panchayat member of a village in Tirap so the district panchayat development officer is also being informed about his arrest. It was also revealed during the investigation that drug consumers used to come to Besai’s house and purchase drugs. They used to consume the same at his residence in most of the cases,” police said.
A case under section 21(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 has been registered at the Khonsa police station against Besai and a detailed investigation is on, the police added.
The entire operation was supervised by Khonsa police station officer-in-charge W Kamhua and coordinated by Tirap superintendent of police Kardak Riba.
“With the apprehension of Besai, all other drug peddlers, if any, in Tirap will soon be apprehended,” the SP said, while seeking the contribution of all the stakeholders in the district police and administration’s fight against drugs.
