IMPHAL, July 21: A team of the Thoubal District commandos rescued a 14 year girl from being allegedly recruited as a child soldier of the banned outfit KCP (Noyon) on July 20.
SDPO Kakching, A Ghanashyam Sharma said a team of Thoubal Police intercepted a Maruti van bearing regd no MN 01 X 2125 driven by one Md Firoz Khan, 29 son of Md Abdul Gani of Lilong Ushoipokpi Makha Tharaorok.
The incident happened on July 20 around 2:30pm at Pallel Bazar, while the police team
The police team found the girl identified as Irungbam Sunita, 14 daughter of (L) Irungbam Thoiba Singh of Thamnapokpi Awang Leikai, Yaingangpokpi.
On further interrogation of the driver, he disclosed that he was going to hand over the girl to one Wanglen of KCP (Noyon) for recruitment as a soldier at Moreh.
He had also disclosed that the child was handed over to him by one Deepak of KCP (Noyon) and asked him to transport the child upto Moreh.
The police officer was speaking to media persons at the conference hall of the Thoubal Police HQs.
He further informed that the police have taken custody of the van and the driver.
Meanwhile, a Thoubal police team including lady police personnel later handed over the child to her family members after observing all related formalities.
Meanwhile, elaborating on another achievement of the district police, the SDPO continued that on July 20, a team of the district police arrested an individual identified as Md Muffijuddin alias Amir Khan, 27 son of Sahid Md Kayammuddin of Lilong Haoreibi Turel Ahunbi and seized a Maruti Van alongwith 46,495 pseudoephedrine tablets wrapped in 20 plastic packets.
Elaborating on the incident, the SDPO informed that around 3pm on July 20, the police team while conducting a frisking and checking operation at Pallel bazar saw a Maruti van coming along in a suspecting manner.
The police team signalled the Maruti Van bearing regd no MN 1K 5818 to stop, however the vehicle sped away at which the police team chased the vehicle and nabbed the driver.
During checking of the inside of the vehicle, the plastic packets containing the pseudoephedrine tablets were found hidden in a secret chamber inside the vehicle, the SDPO briefed.
On further interrogation of the vehicle driver, he revealed that he was carrying the drugs to Moreh, the police officer said.
The SDPO also said that the seized consignment of pseudoephedrine tablets would have fetched Rs 24 lakhs in the international market.
He further briefed the media persons that in the evening of the same day, a team of the district police had also rounded up two individuals along with 30 litres each of contraband country made liquor from Kakching bazar.
The two alongwith the seized liquor were handed over to the excise department.
The two were later made to pay a fine of Rs 4000 each to the excise department while the liquor was destroyed.
He identified the two liquor traffickers as Sougaijam Noren son of Tomei of Kakching Wairi Thongam Leirak and Naorem Dilip, son of (L) Yaima of Kakching Super Market.
He concluded that the district police has been undergoing operations against illegal trafficking of liquor and other illegal items in the district under the supervision of SP, Thoubal Dr AK Jhalajit.