DIMAPUR, JUNE 22 (MExN): Close on the heels of the police arresting three persons for involvement in illicit vegetable and ‘paan’ dealership syndicates, two persons suspected of involvement in the long speculated unlawful poultry trade monopoly have been arrested. The arrests occurred in the backdrop of the Action Committee Against Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) calling for indefinite ban on sale of ‘syndicate controlled poultry products’ in Dimapur beginning June 18.
Sources on condition of anonymity disclosed that on June 17 one person identified only as Abdul, suspected to be a stakeholder of the poultry dealership syndicate, was arrested by the police from Dhobinullah. Three days later, on June 20, a second person identified only by his first name, Harish, was arrested from Burma Camp. Though the police are yet to officially confirm the arrests, reliable sources stated that both the accused are now in police remand. Police are on the hunt for others involved, it was disclosed.
The poultry dealership ring is believed to involve a large network of individuals or ‘dealers’, who own individual stakes in the trade with patronage from underground elements. The sources stated that it is hard to distinguish between the kingpins and the small fries as the network is known to have many ‘maliks’.
The underground connection in the trade of almost all commodities in the market has wedged the police in a tight spot. Though an open secret, the underground link is yet to be strongly established while it has prevented the police from catching hold of the people, under whose patronage and muscle, the dealers are given a free hand to monopolize trade. Further, the ongoing ceasefire has not made matters any easier for the police. The ceasefire, it is said, is unwarily standing as a barrier preventing the police from even going near the so called patrons let alone issue arrest warrants.
Arrested vegetable, paan syndicate dealers out on bail
Meanwhile, the three persons, who were arrested on June 3 and June 7 for involvement in illicit vegetable and ‘paan’ dealership syndicates, are now out on bail. According to sources, Gauri Shanker and Jialal Prasad, who were said to be the ‘main tax collectors and syndicate partners of the vegetable dealership syndicate’ and Abdul Hasim, who was said to be involved in ‘betel leaves dealership syndicate’ obtained bail.
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