IMPHAL, June 22 - The Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council, has demanded an inquiry into the recent arrest of the chairman of the Chandel Autonomous District Council Lhunkhosei alias Sesei Zou and seven others and the subsequent seizure of a huge quantity of contraband drugs and cash, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or a Central agency.
CPI Manipur State secretary L Sotinkumar made the demand while talking to reporters here today. Earlier the Manipur State unit of the Shiv Sena also demanded an NIA investigation into the incident.
The Shiva Sena unit will take the help of central leaders to find out the truth if the authorities concerned attempt to bury the matter, Manipur Shiv Sena president M Tombi had said on Thursday.
The chairman of the Chandel Autonomous District Council Lhunkhosei (51), who joined the BJP last year after getting elected to the council, was arrested along with seven other associates by a Narcotics and Affairs of Border (NAB) team of Manipur Police. A total of 4.595 kg of heroin and 2.80 lakh World is Yours (WY) amphetamine tablets valued at more than Rs 27 crore, besides Rs 57.18 lakh in cash, were recovered in a nightlong operation on June 19.
The BJP Manipur Pradesh committee expelled Lhunkhosei from the party for his alleged involvement in the drugs case. The party issued an order in this regard on June 20.
Meanwhile, the arrested autonomous district council chairman and the seven others were remanded in police custody till June 29 after they were produced before the magistrate.
