CM to drug peddlers: Surrender or face music
"Newly married couples unable to conceive naturally due io drug abuse"
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, March 25 2022: Chief Minister N Biren Singh has warned drug peddlers and dealers operating in the state to either surrender or face consequences of the stringent action which will be taken up against them.

He was talking to media at the Chief Minister's Secretariat on Friday regarding drugs menace in the state.

The CM continued that any person arrested with illegal drugs, regardless of quantity, would face compulsory jail term of one year which will be extendable up to two years under The Prevention of Illicit Trafficking of Drugs Act.

So far, five people have been jailed under this Act.

He further said that the state police would file case against any person found with illegal drugs regardless of the quantity possessed.

However, uses of drugs for treatment of addicts in rehabilitation centres under the supervision of doctors would be exempted.

Biren mentioned that the situation of drug menace in the state is still alarming although the police forces had seized many illegal drugs during the last five years under the War on Drugs-I Campaign.

As such, the state government will be putting much effort to totally root out drug menace from the State under War on Drugs-II.

He informed that the state govern ment had recently re-constituted the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) led by IGP-Zone-III Nishit Kumar Ujjwal which has started functioning.

The ANTF comprises Satellite Mapping Team, IT, Cyber Crime, Assam Rifles, state police, and horticulture department among others.

Apart from carrying out random drives, the task force would not compromise on the issue under any pressure from any person or group and would work sincerely, according to law, with the objective of rooting out drug menace in the next two years.

Maintaining that any negligence on the part of police, which could lead to the escape of the drug peddlers, will not be excused; Biren stated that they should work dutifully to nab drug peddlers at any cost.

He further urged fellow politicians not to interfere or politicise the matter, while stating that the state police should make legal authorities aware of the drugs related situation in the state and also provide protection to judges and lawyers from any undue influence.

The state police need not pay attention to "requests" from the political circle or social workers and instead, carry out their duties diligently, the CM stressed.

He informed that the Director General of Police has been advised to set up outposts with 5 to 10 police personnel at every village, where illegal trafficking of drugs is frequently carried out.

The Anti-Narcotics Task Force had also been empowered to procure necessary vehicles and other equipment, he conveyed.

The CM further informed that drone surveys will be conducted to locate all the poppy plantation areas.

Assam Rifles and Central anti-narcotics forces will also be deployed in addition to the state police to root out poppy plantations.

Home Minister Amit Shah had also responded positively to provide the personnel for the same, he said.

Regarding the issues faced in natural conception by young couples in the state and increase IVF treatments owing to mass uses of intoxicants, as stated in a report from Health Department; the CM stated that youth nowadays started using intoxicants as a fashion.

Such behaviour poses a question on our future generations, he said, while wondering if this spells the end of the indigenous communities.

Thus, he cautioned that any person involved in drug trafficking would not be excused even on grounds of earning their living by carrying out such illegal activities, while remarking that there are many respectful ways of earning a living.

It may be mentioned here that a combined team of CDO, Imphal East and Anti-Narcotics Task Force of Manipur Police Department arrested a drug dealer namely Md Mujibur Rahaman from Khergao Awang Leikai with a large quantity of narcotics substances whose value will be approximately Rs 1.2 crore in local market and around Rs 9 crore in international market.

The seized items were also displayed to media persons during the press conference on Friday.

The press conference was also attended by DGP Peter Doungel, SPs of the districts, NAB personnel and other officials concerned.

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