SP warns shopkeepers against selling dendrites to minors
SHILLONG: The city police have decided to take legal action against shopkeepers selling inhalants to young children as the number of street children sniffing glue is on the rise in Shillong.
Sadar police station is one of the police stations working against substance abuse among children as there has been a sharp increase in the number of street children in Shillong.
The Sadar Police station earlier conducted awareness programme on Section 77 of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) for shopkeepers and other stakeholders but such effort by the police failed to stop shopkeepers from selling Dendrites to children.
Taking cognizance of the irresponsible behavior of shopkeepers, the Sadar Police station on Thursday arrested, one Sudip Pal of Oakland who runs a shop in Quinton Road for selling the inhalant to children.
The action came after police found seven juveniles sniffing dendrite in the area and based on their lead, the shopkeeper was arrested.
Sadar Police station has also issued a warning to all shopkeepers to abstain from selling any form of intoxicants to children as per Section 77 of the Act failing which the defaulter will be punished with seven years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine upto Rs 1 lakh.
Speaking on the matter, East Khasi Hills SP, M Kharkrang said that all the police stations have been directed to keep a tab on the issue.
“If our police personnel find any children intoxicated, the police personnel will ask the children about their source and accordingly, raid will be conducted in that particular shop,” Kharkrang warned.