SHILLONG, MAR 9: The Meghalaya police is committed towards eradicating the menace of drugs peddling and consumption in the state, Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui said on Wednesday.
“I am affirming this statement because in the past five years cases under Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act registered in the state, were 56 cases in 2017, 81 cases in 2018, 117 cases in 2019, 69 cases in 2020 and 69 in 2021,” Rymbui said in the Assembly.
A total of 218 charge sheets have been filed so far and 144 cases are pending for completion of the investigation, he informed while replying to a call attention notice moved by Congress MLA from Mawlai PT Sawkmie.
He said some of the notable seizures in the past five years include 12,658.51 grams of heroin, 85.866 grams of Meta Amphetamine or Yaba Tablets and 4,439 bottles of phensedyl.
East Khasi Hills has been adjudged best performance district nationally for rollout of action plan on drugs and substance abuse and child trafficking, he added.
In order to ensure that the menace of drugs is curtailed in the state, Rymbui said the police department has constituted Anti-Narcotics Task Force in the 11 districts of the state headed by an officer not below the rank of Dy. Superintendent of Police or Inspector.
He informed that the police department has also been organizing various awareness programme on drugs in collaboration with various reputed organizations of the state, these programmes have been held in schools, colleges and in public places.
Stating that the police department is also actively promoting its message against drugs on regular basis through all the social media platforms, the home minister however that the menace of drugs will not be eradicated without the active participation of the community, and it is for this reason that Community Liaison Groups have been constituted at the police station level seeking the support of the community leaders and their members as we fight this menace which is slowly affecting the society.
He said since the menace of drugs is a burning issue in today’s society, it will be highly pragmatic for each and every one of us to lend a support to the efforts of the Meghalaya police who are fighting the perils of drugs in the state.
“The fight against drugs will not be possible without the active participation of one and all, and it is through this August House that I appeal to all the citizens of the state to join hands in fighting this pernicious issue which is affecting the families and the people of the state,” he stated.
On the recent arrest of two Nigerian nationals and subsequent arrest of one out of four suspects from Meghalaya in connection with a drugs case in Guwahati, the home minister said the case is still under investigation and the officials of Assam police are conducting further investigation to ascertain the facts and circumstances of the case.
As the matter is under investigation and sub-judice in court it would not be prudent to engage further discussion regarding the matter, he added.
By Our Reporter
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