Dimapur Police has denied outright as baseless the allegation made by NSCN (Niki) group regarding an alleged exchange of contraband drugs for the release of four arrested cadres.
In a statement, Commissioner of police (CP) Dimapur, Kevithuto Sophie said that NSCN (Niki) had put out a communication in social media on March 29 (later published in local dailies the following day) alleging that ACP East Dimapur and an unnamed junior officer had been handed over 25 soap cases of contraband Shanflower to enable the release of four of its members who were arrested by Police in connection with abduction of two persons by the group.
Claiming that it had seized the contraband from the accused, CP said the faction mentioned that the soap cases had been apparently handed over to Dimapur Police through one “Iuto, PS of some advisor to Nagaland government.”
He said the earlier case complaint came to the police only as a case of abduction and extortion of two persons– Jahirul Islam and Eamaradul Islam– by cadres of the Niki faction. CP said that police lodged a separate investigation into the matter of drugs trafficking.
During the course of enquiry, CP said Iuto was called to the police station and questioned about the exchange of soap cases with the police in lieu of release of the arrested.
CP said that the ceasefire office of NSCN (Niki) had informed the Dimapur Police on March 30 that Iuto had revealed to them in the presence of Toluvi Village Council chairman that he (Iuto) had handed over the consignment of drugs to one of his friends Atopu for concealment, who concealed the drugs at his rented house in Toluvi village on March 29.
According to CP, Iuto confessed that he had not handed over the drugs to any police officer as alleged by NSCN (Niki).
On further investigation, CP said the Dimapur Police recovered the 24 soap cases from the house of Atopu where they were buried and concealed. The consignment was seized in the presence of independent witnesses Toluvi Village Council chairman Bohoshe Awomi and council member Shikheto Zhimomi as per proper procedures.
He said that that both Iuto Swu and Atopu Kiba were arrested in connection with NDPS case. Later, it came to light that Jahirul and Eamaradul who had transported the drugs from Manipur to Pherima had been abducted by NSCN (Niki) cadres from Pherima on allegation of drug trafficking.
During investigation, CP said police could recover 24 soap cases of suspected shanflower drugs from the rented compound of Atopu at Toluvi village. However, CP said upon interrogation of the two kidnapped persons (now accused), the duo said that they had brought 40 soap cases of shanflower and were detained and kidnapped by NSCN (Niki) cadres at Pherima on March 23.
CP mentioned that this appeared to be correct if one had to go by the image released by NSCN (Niki) to the media. Hence, CP said the faction kept 16 soap cases, best known to their interest, without handing these over to the police, nor given to Iuto or Atopu for concealment.
CP clarified to all that Dimapur Police at no time had the knowledge nor was it involved in the alleged attempted trading of shanflower drugs for the release of the four NSCN (Niki) cadres arrested for their involvement in the kidnapping case.
CP, therefore, reiterated mandating all social media news platforms and local print dailies involved in disseminating news to verify the veracity of any information received from other sources other than issued by the government department concerned before reporting live/print. CP explained that this was meant to ensure that no content reported was against the interest of the state and public order, or involved defamation of any kind or that which was likely to incite the commission of any offence.
He cautioned that non-adherence to this would be deemed in violation of being a responsible citizen of the state, and action in accordance with provision of law would be initiated.
CP also reiterated that the public or the groups/factions or NGOs/CSOs should not take law into their hands. If any chance seizures of drugs/ narcotics were there, these should be handed over to the nearest police station immediately because possession of narcotics substances was an offence by itself, CP asserted.
He said if the factions chanced upon any information about drug trafficking or instances of drug trafficking, these may be shared with the nearest police station or through the chairman of CFMG/CFSB, along with the seized consignment.