SHILLONG, March 9: Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has asserted that the Meghalaya Police has put all hands on deck to eradicate the menace of drugs in the state, even as he called upon people to join the fight against this menace.
Replying to a call attention notice moved by Congress MLA from Mawlai, PT Sawkmie, during the ongoing budget session of the Assembly on Wednesday, the Home Minister said that the police are committed towards rooting out the menace of drug peddling and abuse in the state.
He said, “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 in 2018, 117 in 2019, and 69 cases in 2020 and 2021 each.”
Stating that a total of 218 charge sheets have been filled so far, and investigations into 144 cases are pending, Rymbui 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.”
The Mawlai MLA had moved the call attention notice on the report of two Nigerian nationals being arrested in Guwahati with drugs, and subsequent revelation of involvement of four suspects from Meghalaya.
With regard to the steps taken to fight the menace, Rymbui said, “The police department has constituted Anti-Narcotic Task Force in the 11 districts of the state, headed by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police or Inspector”.
Rymbui also highlighted that several awareness programme were held by the department in association with other organisations in the state promoting message against drugs.
He also informed the House that Community Liaison Groups have been constituted at the police station-level seeking the support of community leaders and their members.
“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 added.