After Mizoram, the Assam Rifles have seized 68 tonnes of smuggled areca nuts worth Rs 5.87 crore in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district, officials said on Friday.
A Defence spokesman said that based on specific intelligence input regarding illegal transportation of areca nuts on Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37), a Joint Mobile Vehicle Check Post (MVCP) was established by Assam Rifles and Police at Haibung in Kangpokpi District of Manipur.
During the operation, the joint team intercepted two trucks (with Nagaland registration) carrying approximately 68 tonnes of areca nuts valued at Rs 5.87 crore. On thorough checking, it was found that the consignment was being transported without valid documents, including mandatory transit permits from the forest department.
The seized consignment, along with both vehicles, was handed over to the forest officials of Kangpokpi Forest Division for further legal action and investigation.
The mountainous Kangpokpi District shares borders with Nagaland.
Police officials said that the areca nuts, also known as Burmese Betel nuts, were smuggled from Myanmar. The Assam Rifles, Customs and police often seized Burmese areca nuts in Mizoram after they were smuggled from Myanmar.
Large-scale smuggling of areca nuts from Myanmar is seriously affecting farmers in Assam, Mizoram and Tripura, where betel nuts grow in large quantities.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma had recently said that due to the illegal import of 'areca nut' from Myanmar, local cultivators in the state have faced serious challenges in selling their produce at competitive prices.
Addressing the training-cum-seminar on 'Scientific Methods of Cultivation of Areca nut and Pest Management', he emphasised that the government is working diligently to address these difficulties and take corrective measures. He announced that Rs 7.43 crore has been sanctioned by the North Eastern Council (NEC) for establishing areca nut processing units at Chemphai and Zamuang.
He said that these units would ensure proper processing of areca nuts, create value-added products, and facilitate marketing. Lalduhoma also stressed the importance of proper utilisation of available resources to ensure increased productivity and economic benefits for farmers.
Seven cops injured during anti-Waqf Act rally in Tripura
At least seven policemen sustained injuries on Saturday during a clash between the security personnel and the agitators who held a protest rally against the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act in northern Tripura’s Kailashahar under Unakoti district.
Rose Valley Ponzi scam: Centre hands over Rs 515 crore to help 7.5 lakh victims
The government on Saturday handed over Rs 515.31 crore to Justice D.K. Seth (Retd), Chairman of the Asset Disposal Committee which was formed for the purpose of restitution of properties to legitimate investors in the Rose Valley Ponzi scam.
Chhattisgarh: Heavy loss to Maoists in Bijapur-Dantewada, encounter going on
Heavy loss to Maoists have been reported in the Bhairamgarh area, located on the Bijapur-Dantewada border in Chhattisgarh, during an encounter between security forces and Maoists on Saturday.
Om Birla brings 'Mayra' to martyr’s home fulfilling promise to sister on her daughter's wedding
Six years after the martyrdom of CRPF Jawan Hemraj Meena in the Pulwama attack, a wave of joy swept through his home on Saturday as the courtyard of Veerangana (war widow) Madhubala was filled with the sounds of celebration and music as the family prepared for her daughter’s wedding.
'Should Hindus leave Bengal?' asks Giriraj Singh, slams Mamata Banerjee govt over Murshidabad violence
Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Saturday strongly condemned the recent violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, calling it a "heart-wrenching" incident that reflects the deteriorating law and order situation under the Mamata Banerjee-led government.
U'khand tragedy: Car with Haridwar family plunges into Alaknanda River; one rescued, five feared dead
In a heartbreaking incident near Devprayag, Uttarakhand, a car carrying a family from Haridwar plunged into a 300-metre-deep gorge and sank into the Alaknanda River near the Badshah Hotel area on Saturday.
US orders foreign nationals to register under Alien Act or face arrest, deportation
In a sweeping move that has ignited concern among immigrant communities across the United States, the White House has announced that all foreign nationals residing in the country for over 30 days must register with the federal government or face strict penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
JCO killed as Army foils infiltration bid on LoC in J&K
A Junior Commissioned Officer (JCO) of the Indian Army was killed when alert soldiers foiled an infiltration bid on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's (J&K’s) Akhnoor sector, officials said on Saturday.