By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, March 23: Although drug menace remains one of the major issues in Meghalaya, the state government continues to remain non-committal on coming up with fully government-run rehabilitation centres.
It, however, has assured to provide all help and assistance in kind or cash to the various private-run rehabilitation centres in the state.
Moving a call attention motion on drug menace, UDP MLA from Nongpoh, Mayralborn Syiem highlighted the ills of drug-trafficking and consumption in the state and the toll it is taking on the society as well as the youth.
He stressed on the need to come up with a government-run rehabilitation centre with either a minimal rate or for free, citing that all rehabilitation centres run in the state are mostly privately owned and it costs anything between Rs 10,000 to 15,000 a month, which is a huge burden to the already troubled families.
Citing various reports of drug seizure, he said that drug peddlers and suppliers go scot-free after a few days of their arrest.
He asked the government to take serious note of this.
Expressing surprise at the unabated drug illegalities in the state, the UDP MLA hinted at a nexus.
“Despite the best foot put forward by police and the Anti Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) to curb trafficking and zero it down on the smugglers, it still continues. May be there is a nexus and that has to be followed. We have very porous state and international border, we have to keep a check,” the Nongpoh MLA said.
He asked the police and the district task forces to reinvigorate vigil in the days to come and work collectively with all stakeholders to eradicate the menace of drugs.
Participating in the call attention motion, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister in-charge Home Police, Prestone Tynsong said the menace of drugs has been affecting the rural and urban populace of the state which is evident from the number of NDPS cases registered throughout the state from 2010 to 2023 (March).
“A total of 726 cases under NDPS Act have been registered out of which 423 are charge-sheeted, 77 cases returned in final report and investigation into 223 cases is still on,” Tynsong told the House.
During the same time frame, around 1330 persons (1193 male and 137 female) have been arrested, he added.
Informing the House about the quantity of seizures of narcotics and psychotropic substances, Tynsong said a total of 26,678 grams of heroine, 10,309 kg of ganja, 2796 grams of opium, 93 kg of meta-amphetamine or Yaba tablets, 25,260 grams of other psychotropic substances have been seized since 2010 till March 2023.
Talking about different measures to enhance detection of drug trafficking and increase awareness about the menace among the public, Tynsong said the anti-narcotic task force has been set up at the district-level under the direct supervision of the respective SPs to check and prevent drug trafficking, while various Community Liaison Group (CLG) have also been established at different police stations comprising of locality headmen elders and youth.
The Deputy CM also told the House that four narcotics sniffer dogs have also been acquired who have been put to use to conduct regular checking at places prone to illegal trafficking of drugs.
The Police department has also moved a proposal to invoke stringent provisions of the Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, which has provisions for detention of the person who are habitual traffickers of drugs and psychotropic substances, Tynsong said.
The government is also paying attention to sensitisation against drugs and rehabilitation and counselling, he said.
“As suggested by member Mayralborn, the department will look into the rehabilitation centres run by the private parties and government will surely back them up financially and any assistance needed to make sure that the rehabilitation takes care of each and everyone,” Tynsong said, while calling drug menace the collective responsibility of all.