SHILLONG, July 2: Meghalaya police has drawn up an ambitious four-pronged action programme to root out the burgeoning drug menace in the state.
Disclosing this here today, DGP LR Bishnoi said that Meghalaya has about 2.5 lakh drug addicts and the numbers continue to grow.
The DGP, who was addressing the Rotary Club of Shillong, said that in the past 30 days since he assumed office, police have conducted 252 awareness programmes across the state.
The other aspects of anti-drug measures include sensitisation of police force, penal action and rehabilitation.
Appealing to the Rotary Club to extend a helping hand in this onerous task, the DGP informed that a whopping 7.5 crore people are addicted to drugs in India.
It is pertinent to note that the DGP had earlier asserted that the police is hell-bent on ending the drug menace in state and will keep initiating stringent measures against the contraband traffickers.
He had also informed that a mobile app will soon be launched which would enable people to share inputs related to drugs, while emphasising that the confidentiality of the person will be maintained.
The DGP had also informed that the kingpins of the drug racket are operating from Myanmar and Manipur, and that the cyber cell is keeping a close watch on such illegal activities.
It may be mentioned that Shillong, Tura, Jowai and Baghmara have been identified as Meghalaya’s most vulnerable towns in terms of tobacco and heroin abuse among children.
“The government intends to wage an all-out war against drug abuse in collaboration with all the stakeholders and stringent punishment will be meted out to drug smugglers, peddlers and traders. It is high time to take effective and resolute steps to stop the availability of these drugs in the state through vigil on the borders through joint operations by the state police, BSF, Customs and Narcotics Control departments and other agencies,” Chief Minister Conrad Sangma had recently said.
