The Manipur government has withdrawn the Chief Minister’s Police Medal for Gallantry 2020 to Sub-Inspector Bheishamayum Debson Singh after he was found to be involved in drug smuggling case.
The Manipur government decision comes after the All Manipur Students’ Union (AMSU) pointed out that Debson had been arrested in 2013 in a drug trafficking case.
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Singh, of the Imphal East Police Station, was conferred the award on 13 August for his “outstanding contribution” towards the force.
He was among 13 other police personnel to receive the gallantry award.
The Home Department has suspended the sub-inspector for concealing the facts regarding to the drug smuggling case.
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The AMSU, in a statement Sunday, said Singh was arrested in connection with the smuggling of drugs worth over Rs 3 crore.
It also said that he was among 11 Manipur Police commandos who were arrested while trying to smuggle strips of Respifed and Pseudoephedrine tablets on their way to Moreh.
The students’ body expressed outrage and questioned the rationale behind Singh’s selection for the award.
“AMSU cannot understand how the chief minister who eloquently elaborated on the issue of ‘war against drugs’ during his official gallantry award address on the Independence Day ceremony could confer to such police personnel caught red-handed for drug trafficking,” read the statement.