IMPHAL, Dec 17 - The Special Court (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances), Manipur, today acquitted Lhukhosei Zou, former chairman of the Autonomous District Council, Chandel, in a 2018 drugs haul case and ordered his immediate release from jail.
Six other accused, including a woman, were also acquitted. An order passed in this regard today, stated that the prosecution has failed to prove the charges levelled against the accused.
However, the court convicted two others, Thangminlun Zou (30) of Lunmnual village in Churachahndpur district, and Tung Khan Mung Zou alias Mung alias Aric (19) of Moreh Ward No. 2 in Tengnoupal district, under the NDPS Act, 1985, and directed the jail authorities to produce the duo before the court on December 21 for hearing of sentence.
The court also directed that all seized articles in connection with the case, be handed over to those from whom they were seized except the contraband drugs and demonetised money.
It may be recalled that in June 2018, a Manipur Police team seized 4.595 kg of heroin and 2.80 lakh World is Yours (WY) amphetamine tablets worth around Rs 27.79 crore in the international market from eight persons including the former chairman of the Chandel autonomous district council during an operation in and around Imphal.
