Assam Rifles jawan Nazir Khan and his wife Mamtaz Begum after their arrest in Shillong on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Shillong, July 10: Anti-narcotics sleuths arrested an Assam Rifles jawan and his wife here last evening for allegedly possessing heroin worth lakhs of rupees.

Acting on a tip-off, Nazir Khan, 32, and his wife, Mamtaz Begum, 28, were apprehended from Thembasuk locality under Madanriting police station by Anti-Narcotics Task Force personnel of East Khasi Hills, led by superintendent of police (city) Vivek Syiem.

The team recovered around 101 grams of heroin, worth between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 15 lakh in the market, from the duo, in one of the biggest haul of drugs in the state in recent times.

According to Syiem, the couple hails from Boriangdi in Bishnupur district of Manipur and Khan was posted at Naginimora in Jorhat district of Assam. Khan was here on vacation during his leave from work.

Syiem said Khan and his wife were caught red-handed from a road, just 30 metres from their house in Thembasuk locality. The heroin was seized from the duo’s possession and from their house, he added. Heroin was packed in golden tobacco containers and other bottles. Syiem said Begum was carrying a bottle containing two tins of heroin while Khan had a dagger in his hand during the arrest.

Police strongly suspect the drug was brought from Myanmar for sale here. Syiem said the police would try to find out Khan’s modus operandi and whether he had links with other drug traffickers. “We hope to get more insight into the case once a thorough investigation is done. Assam Rifles will also send its team to interrogate the duo,” he said.

The police officer expressed concern over the rise in drug-related cases here. “Drugs and crime have an inextricable relationship. In recent times, we have seen there has been a rise in thefts. Drug users often indulge in theft to sustain their habit,” Syiem said.

On several occasions, the police have arrested drug peddlers from the Madanriting area. Syiem said the area has a huge floating population and appealed to the community to play a proactive role in curbing the drug menace.

In January this year, police seized 60 golden tobacco tins containing heroin weighing 69.87 grams. The tins were seized at Madanriting block F locality where three persons, including a woman, were arrested.

Khan and Begum were booked under Section 21 (c) of Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and a trial court has sent them to five days’ police custody.

An official of Assam Rifles said if the allegations against Khan are proved, disciplinary proceedings would be initiated against him. It could also lead to his dismissal from service.