RPF destroys betel leaves worth Rs 15 lakh

Imphal, Oct 24: In an attempt to reduce addiction of betel and tobacco in the region, a proscribed outfit Revolutionary People's Front(RPF) has claimed to have destroyed betel leaf worth Rs 15 lakh and killed an agent at Ningthoukhong in Manipur's Bishenpur district on Oct 23.

RPF owed responsibility of killing Prashad, agent of betel leaves and tobacco on Monday. Lily Leima, a member of the outfit said the organisation has banned betel leaves in Manipur since October 15 to stop people from chewing zarda. The outfit had also banned chewing tobacco.

The outfit, in their statement here, claimed that the man shot dead at Bishenpur district on Monday night had been warned several times to stop supplying betel leaves and other intoxicants. However, he did not heed to their warnings and was ultimately given ''capital punishment''.

Regarding the burning of betel leaves last night, the outfit had asked the agent to appear before the outfit's leaders within five days. The outfit had also requested the Indian Airlines, transport agencies and couriers not to transport banned substances into Manipur.

UNI