RPF/PLA Destroy Seized Betel Leaf, Tobacco Products

Source from:  kanglaonline.com The Imphal Free Press 11/26/2007

Cadres of the underground RPF/PLA, as part of their ongoing drive against import and use of tobacco products and mitha manna (betel leaf) destroyed a large quantity of such products which were seized from four separate shops of the Singjamei area somewhere in Imphal west district this afternoon. A spokesman of the department of communications and publicity, RPF, while parading the shop owners before mediapersons, said the RPF, had received information of the sale of the banned tobacco products in some grocery shops of Singjamei area and carried out a drive in the area. In the drive a large quantity of betel leaf, Zarda, Khaini, Supari and Talab packets were seized from grocery shops owned by Koijam Anguri, alias Binoy, 27, of Singjamei Oinam Thingel, Chongtham Ibohal alias Gyanendro, 35, of Singjamei Mathak Chongtham Leikai, Achom Chaoba of Chingamathak and one shop jointly run by Athokpam Surjit and his brother, Sobha, of Singjamei Thingen Leikai. The spokesman, while informing that the largest quantity of mithamanna and tobacco products were seized from Surjit and Sobha`s shop, disclosed that the pair had managed to escape from their custody. The spokesman also warned the brothers to surrender to the party within five days from today, failing which they would face dire consequences. He also announced that the four grocery shops from where the tobacco items and betel leaf were seized today would be closed down for three months from today, and violation of this restriction would be cause for further punishment for the shop owners. The detained shop owners were later released from the RPF`s custody. Enditem