Militants threaten to execute all involved in drug trade

Imphal, Sep 6 (UNI) Three militant groups operating in Manipur, have announced that all those involved in drug trafficking, wholesale of intoxicants, liquor, banned tablets will be awarded capital punishment.

The decision will come into force from September 15.

The United National Liberation Front (UNLF) senior publicity officer, Ksh Yoihenba, Dy Secretary of Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL ) Apabi Mangang and R Meitei of People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) in a joint statement said drugs, heroin, zarda, banned tablets were banned in Manipur and all were asked to stop trading in such harmful intoxicants.

" Those who sell Zarda or any of the tobacco products will have to close down their shops for one month for the first offence and then complete closure for subsequent offences," it was announced.

Those involved in sale of local brew will also be punished, they said.

However, those not awarded might be shot at their legs for minor offences, the organizations said.

They asked the communities which were producing liquor for traditional purposes not to do so for commercial purposes.

The three organizations also appealed to the people to help any social organization working to stop use of intoxicants. Crime, laziness, petty theft, health hazard were all linked to drug menace, they said.

Though the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) had banned sale of Zarda in Manipur, but it was still continuing. The three organizations said the intoxicants and drugs affect the economy of the people as well as their family life.

It is seen a youth spends a minimum of Rs 4 on such thing every day and if three lakhs people use it randomly then about Rs 3.6 crore is being wasted every month, they argued.

UNI NS KK RD 1351