Manipur’s decorated lady police officer Thounaojam Brinda has once again hit the headlines. She has alleged that the Chief Minister N Biren Singh and the police top brass had “pressured” her to let off an arrested drug lord.
The 4-year-old officer made the charges in her affidavit, which she submitted in reply to a suo-motu case registered by the court against her after she allegedly criticised the court in Facebook posts.
She had also accused the judge of giving three weeks bail to the accused, Lhukhosei Zhou, who was arrested in connection with the drug smuggling case.
In an affidavit, Brinda revealed how she was pressured by the authorities to release Lhukhosei Zhou, the alleged drug lord who was then serving as chairman of the Autonomous District Council (ADC), Chandel, and withdraw the chargesheet filed against him and others in court.
Brinda is facing a contempt case for her “offensive” remarks on Facebook allegedly undermining and criticising the judiciary after Zhou was granted bail by the court of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
On Tuesday, Biren Singh, when asked by reporters in the sideline of a function at Imphal denied the allegations. “As the matter is subjudice in the Court, it would not be legally proper to comment on it. But it is known to all that no person can interfere in any judicial proceedings or court cases as law takes its own course to meet the ends of justice. Our government’s war on drugs campaign will continue and no party involved, whether friend or relative would be spared in the campaign under the present BJP regime in the state,” said a statement on Tuesday evening, quoting the CM.
The allegation comes days after Manipur government issued a notification regarding Manipur State Policy on Substance Abuse 2019 that aims to make it an illicit drugs free state. Ilicit drug use, popy cultivation and drugs smuggling is a serious issue in the state, which has affected thousands including youths and children.
