JOWAI, May 19: At the time when Meghalaya continues to reel under the menace of substance abuse, Social Welfare Minister Kyrmen Shylla has made a fervent appeal to the youths to not fall prey to drugs and exercise caution to steer clear of it.
The minister made the appeal during an awareness programme at Jaintia Eastern College on Thursday.
During the programme, awareness was disseminated among the students on drugs abuse, crimes against women and children, and road safety.
Shylla, in his address, spoke about the ill effects of drugs and said that the involvement of youths with drugs saddens him.
Touching upon the cases of crimes against women and children, he urged the gathering to immediately alert the police lest they encounter similar cases.
“We have heard so many cases about women and children are being sexually abused which is in itself very said,” the minister said.
East Jaintia Hills Deputy Commissioner Abhilash Baranwal and Superintendent of Police Jagpal Singh Dhanoa also exhorted the students to stay away from drugs.
Meanwhile, Additional Superintendent of Police, Banraplang Jyrwa, informed that the use of drugs like heroin and opium have been found to be very common among the youths in Meghalaya.
“The use of drugs is a crime and there is a strong law under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act to punish those who are trafficking, selling and consuming drugs,” Jyrwa said.
Sub-Inspector D Shabong, on the other hand, enlightened the gathering about POCSO Act, and urged the gathering to immediately report similar cases, if encountered, to police. “In most of the cases of sexual offences against child, the offenders are the ones already known to the victims such as her relatives, uncles, stepfathers, neighbours, besides others,” she informed.
Deputy SP, J Mairom, on the other hand, spoke about road safety and informed that police had registered more than 50 accident cases and 21 related fatalities in East Jaintia Hills during the year 2021-22. “The cases of these accidents are either due to overspeeding, drunken driving, rash and negligent driving, and distractions usually caused by use of mobile phones,” he said.
It may be mentioned that Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui has recently informed before the House that the Meghalaya Police has put all hands on deck to eradicate the menace of drugs in the state.
Rymbui had also highlighted that several awareness programme were held by the department in association with other organisations in the state disseminating awareness against drugs.
