The ‘War on Drugs’ is on in north-eastern India is on a new high. More than seven tonnes (7,000 kilograms) of all kinds of narcotics , seized by various law enforcement agencies were destroyed in the states of Assam, Manipur and Mizoram over the weekend.
In Assam, narcotics seized by the Dibrugarh police in different cases, was on Sunday destroyed at Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH).
The Mizoram Police on Friday burnt various smuggled and seized drugs valued at Rs 2,362 crore in the international market in Aizawl.
The Manipur government, on Sunday, destroyed drugs worth nearly 600 crore. Manipur chief minister Biren Singh initiated the incineration of the narcotics. “On this international day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, we have disposed drugs worth Rs 589 crore,” said Manipur CM Biren Singh.
Assam
In Assam, Dibrugarh SP Shwetank Mishra said that altogether 6 kg, 278 grams of brown sugar and heroin and 83 kg, 900 grams of cannabis were burnt at the incinerator of the AMCH.
The drugs were seized by the police in 38 cases in recent times under ‘Operation Drugs-Free Dibrugarh’.
The SP appealed the citizens for their support and cooperation in the war against drugs.
The SP said, “Drug abuse is a big issue in Assam. It is a big challenge for us to tackle the menace. We have declared a war against drugs. Our motto is drugs-free Dibrugarh. We are committed to dismantling the entire drug smuggling racket in the district.”
“We have arrested more than 70 drug traffickers and peddlers in recent times. Cases have been registered against them at various police stations under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Watertight cases are being prepared against them to ensure their conviction,” he added.
“Our crackdown against drugs will continue until every drug trafficker is nabbed and every drug trafficking route is plugged. However we also need the cooperation of the public to make society drugs-free,” SP Mishra said.
Mizoram
Mizoram Home Minister Pu Lalchamliana and Director General of Police Devesh Chandra Srivastava presided over the destruction of over 934 kg of drugs including 18.24 kg of heroin, 753.04 kg of highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, and 87 kg pseudoephedrine.
On Friday, ahead of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on Sunday, large-scale disposal of seized drugs was carried out using the incinerator at Trinity Hospital in Silaimual Melthum in Aizawl.
These drugs, after being smuggled from neighbouring Myanmar, were seized by various law enforcement agencies including Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police during the past few years.
The Home Minister urged Mizoram Police to continue and strengthen their efforts against the drug menace. DGP Srivastva said that the fight against drugs is among the top priorities for Mizoram Police.
The police officer said that various law enforcement agencies during the current year seized various drugs smuggled from Myanmar valued at around Rs 173 crore.
Manipur
In Manipur, the destroyed drugs included around 3000 kg of ganja, 14 kg of heroin, 20 kg of ice drug or crystal methamphetamine, 104 kg of WY tablets and 3482 kg of SP tablets.
The drugs that were destroyed on Sunday were seized by Manipur Police earlier in different raids.
The Manipur chief minister Biren Singh also inaugurated the Anouba Mangal De-addiction Centre at Sunusiphai in Bishnupur district on Manipur on Sunday.
The Manipur chief minister further expressed hope that the state would become drug-free soon.
Arunachal Pradesh
The Arunachal Pradesh police said that it succeeded in seizing suspected cannabis worth Rs 50 lakh from a female trafficker Naharlagun. Based on a tipoff , a raid was conducted on a house in the Gollonallah area in Naharlagun on Friday evening. Police discovered around 526 kg of cannabis hidden in the house. The police also seized a .32 pistol along with Rs 50 thousand in cash.
Mizoram Awareness Drive
“As part of the observance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, during this week, awareness campaigns on drug-related topics have been conducted in 39 schools across all 11 districts of Mizoram. In addition to this, signature campaigns have also been conducted in schools and several other places,” a statement said.
Besides various illicit drugs, especially heroin, highly-addictive methamphetamine tablets, also commonly known as ‘Yaba’, poppy seeds, opium, ganja (marijuana), morphine, bottles of cough syrup valued at hundreds of crores, various other contraband like gold, foreign cigarette as well as arms and ammunition are often smuggled from Myanmar to the northeastern states, especially Mizoram and Manipur.
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With the reference to the “War on Drugs” in north-eastern India has been considered illegal in several states of north-eastern India including Assam, Manipur and Mizoram where the stockpile of drugs mostly narcotics has been seized by various law enforcement agencies to prevent people who are drug addicts and also the community of people who are involved in the replenishment of drugs.
On this “International Day of Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking” the motto is to concoct the states drug free and raise awareness about major health issues which mostly happens because of consumption of drugs.
This is a positive step towards making every state or district drug free and become the limelight of genuine approach in terms of a good concern for the people of their healthy body and mind.