Barely a day after a court acquitted former Autonomous District Council (ADC) chairman from the multi-crore drug seizure case, the police officer who led the police team in the arrest of the ADC chairman returned Chief Minister’s Gallantry Medal conferred on her on Friday.
The then Additional SP of Narcotic Affairs of Border (NAB), Thounaojam Brinda returned the medal to the chief minister.
Special ND&PS court, Manipur while pronouncing the judgement of the multi-crore drug seizure case of June 2018 acquitted former ADC chairman Lhukhosei Zou and others arrested in the operation while convicting two accused of the case.
MPS officer who was Additional SP of the NAB then, Brinda led the police team that raided the official quarter of Zou in Imphal and arrested him on June 20, 2018.
In recognition of the case as part of the chief minister’s “War against Drugs”, she was conferred the Chief Minister’s Medal for Gallantry.
“However, the investigation and prosecution have been deemed unsatisfactory by the Hon’ble ND&PS Court. I feel morally inclined that I have not conducted my duty as ‘per the wishes’ of the Criminal Justice Delivery System of the land. Hence, for the reason cited above, I do not consider myself deserving of the honour bestowed upon me by your good self. I, therefore, return the same to the state Home department so that it may be given to a more deserving and loyal police officer,” Brinda wrote to the chief minister while returning the medal.
Speaking to reporters after returning the medal, Brinda said, “I think I am not worthy of the medal as the case has failed and I have no moral right to keep the medal,” she said. Brinda also said that the case failed because of her inefficiency as a police officer.
When asked whether the investigation report submitted by her as an Investigating Officer of the case was discussed during the trial of the case, she said that there is the need for re-investigation of the case right from the start.
NNN