Effigies burnt at anti-drug protest
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, March 08 2013:
Holding the Government responsible for the increase in drug smuggling and alleged inaction against drug smugglers, anti-drug campaigners today burnt effigies of the Chief Minister, Deputy CM and Director General of Police at Heibongpokpi under Lamshang Assembly Constituency.
The protest was preceded by a public discussion session and protest rally by womenfolk of Lamshang and adjacent areas.
As part of the ongoing campaign against drug smuggling and to save the younger generation by 15 organisations, the Heibongpokpi discussion session was organised by local women bodies and was held with Apunba Lup president S Momon, social workers S pari Khuman and Th Ingochabi, and Heibongpokpi CADA unit president K Priyosakhi as members of the dais.
Addressing the gathering, CADA president A Robindro expressed that ceaseless effort by the womenfolk to protect the future pillars of Manipur is not only passing through a critical phase but is facing a serious challenge from the drug smugglers whose sole intention is to amass wealth.
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He also opined that disbanding the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) is an indication that the Government of Manipur is not serious enough to protect the youths from falling prey to harmful substances.
speaking at the occasion, UPF president BM Yaima Shah strongly condemned involvement of top Government officials and influential individuals in drug smuggling.
For decades people of Manipur had been vigorously campaigning against drug abuse but recent report about Government officials and relatives of influential persons indulging in the illegal drug trade is a grim reminder that there is no room for complacency in the effort, said Yaima Shah while asking the Government to prove its commitment in curbing drug smuggling by checking transportation of illegal drugs through the airport.
CADA advisor Th Mangi describing the Manipuri society as chaotic consequent to many of the youngsters indulging in substance abuse, insurgency-related violence claiming several lives and threat posed to the indigenous people due to rapid increase in population of non-locals, called for more concerted effort to prevent the younger generation from falling victims to substance abuse.
On the otherhand, NIPCO president Sunil Karam alleged that the SIU was disbanded at the behest of well-connected and influential drug smugglers.
The fact that drugs are being recovered at regular intervals but the Government unable to identify the real drug smuggler is a clear instance that many officials are involved in the illegal trade, he said.
during the protest rally, slogans were raised for stringent punitive action against drug smugglers and revive SIU along with reinstating the Unit's Officer in-charge Ranjit.