Imphal, 17 Jan 2025
Vishma Ahanthem
City Police in Manipur, once again show it in action that good civic-deeds never goes in vain by providing recognition’s gift pack to two individual who, through social media, highlighted ripening of green banana by dipping it into a suspected harmful chemical for selling it to public.
The City police swung into action, after the videos went viral that shows one man and a female using chemical to ripen green banana and selling it to the public at Naga Nala, behind Ngari Gali in Thangal Bazar.
Referring the duo, who uploaded the videos, as “Good Samaritan” for playing a crucial role in raising awareness about this hazardous practice and recognizing their civic role for upholding food safety and market hygiene, the police presented a gift pack.
On January 15, 2025, the police quickly formed a team to investigate the matter and the woman seen in the video was detained on the same day, as Merai Ibecha Begum (66), wife of Hesam, from Sora Mamang Leilkai, Kakching District, and currently residing at Yairipok Tulihal, Kaina Poirou Khongjil in Imphal East. She also identified the man in the video as Md. Maniruddin (40), a laborer from the same locality.
According to the detained individuals, an unknown woman had supplied the bananas and the chemicals used to ripen them on January 14, 2025. Ibecha hired Maniruddin to wash the bananas in the chemical solution.
On January 16, 2025, both Ibecha and Maniruddin were presented before the Section District Magistrate- Imphal West, with a prayer to bind them under appropriate legal sections. The Magistrate bound them under Section 128 BNSS, and they were released after the necessary legal processes.
Efforts are ongoing to identify the unknown woman, a vegetable wholesaler, who provided the chemical to Ibecha.
