The Indian Army has been rocked by a series of corruption and discipline cases in recent years, with land, liquor, meat, cereal, petrol and other scams involving even general-rank officers. But its reputation sunk to a new low on Sunday when a lieutenant-colonel was arrested with five others for trying to allegedly smuggle illegal drugs into Myanmar.
Lt-Col Ajay Chaudhary, posted as the defence public relations officer at Imphal since January 2011, and the five others were detained by police in Pallel area of the Thoubal police district of Manipu.
“Their three vehicles were packed to the roof with pseudoephedrine and other tablets estimated to be worth around Rs 24 crore. The Bolero in which the Army officer was travelling had a sticker of ‘PRO Defence’,” an official said.
The vehicles were headed towards Moreh, the town on the border with Myanmar, where such drugs are in huge demand as “speed drugs”, when they were intercepted by the police. The other five accused were identified as N Brojendro, an assistant manager of Indigo Airlines posted at Imphal airport, R K Babloo, a Territorial Army jawan and three tribals.
The Army said “strictest possible action” would be taken against Lt-Col Chaudhary, a Bihar Regiment officer, if he was found guilty. “The matter is being investigated. It’s a civil offence. When he is produced before a magistrate, we will examine whether we want to take him into our custody or not. We are waiting for the full report,” said a senior officer.
Lt-Col Chaudhary, however, denied his involvement in any drug racket, telling reporters that he was “shocked” to see the drug packets inside the vehicles since he was just helping a businessman whom he knew. As the Imphal PRO, the officer comes under the defence ministry’s directorate of public relations. Before January 2011, he was posted with the Army’s newly-raised division headquartered in Lekhapani in Assam.
The police said the drug haul which included tablets of Respifed, Omkop, Hilcold, Polyfed and Actidin was the biggest in the state in recent times. Drug-trafficking experts said a huge quantity of pseudoephedrine and other drugs were also being smuggled to the notorious ‘Golden Triangle’ of south-east Asia for use in the manufacturing of heroine.
better than pak generals who export terrorists….lol
No they don't.
really??? really?? ask ur self this question….even after so much of happening …again that denial mode??
Wow, The pot is calling the kettle black, wonder why Indians feel so frightened when some truth about them comes out in the open.
Shame on you typical Indian mentality all indians army are bunch of corrupt and killed innocent civilians in Kashmir.
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