By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Oct 5: The Hynñiewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has urged Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma to take immediate action to establish Fast Track Courts/Special Courts under the DREAM Project for the trial of cases under the NDPS Act, particularly in East Khasi Hills.
“Currently, there are no Special Courts for NDPS cases, causing trials to drag on for years. This discourages witnesses and the public from assisting the state in the fight against drugs. We urge the government to appoint Special Courts with Special Public Prosecutors, as mandated by the NDPS Act, 1985, especially in vulnerable districts like East Khasi Hills,” HYC president Roy Kupar Synrem stated in a representation submitted to the Chief Minister.
He further called for strengthening the crackdown on drug traffickers, particularly by using the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (PIT-NDPS Act), 1988, to detain repeat offenders.
According to Synrem, the police and concerned authorities should take proactive steps to ensure habitual offenders are placed under preventive detention to prevent their involvement in illicit drug trafficking. He noted that while the NDPS Act provides stringent provisions for drug-related offences, many offenders secure acquittals on technical grounds due to non-compliance with mandatory procedures.
Synrem stressed that such acquittals create a sense of insecurity in society and undermine public confidence in the criminal justice system. “It is essential that investigating agencies and prosecutors are well-versed in the mandatory provisions of the law and discharge their duties professionally to achieve the law’s objectives,” he added.
The HYC also highlighted the need for enforcement agencies to rigorously follow NDPS Act provisions during both investigation and prosecution stages to ensure the conviction of offenders.
In addition, Synrem pointed out that there are only 10 rehabilitation centres in Meghalaya, with a total intake capacity of around 300, while the state has nearly 3 lakh drug users, as stated in a recent Assembly session. He emphasised the urgent need for a state-sponsored rehabilitation centre in East Khasi Hills with adequate facilities and services, including recreational activities, skill development programmes, and proper care for patients.
Given the increasing number of drug users in vulnerable districts, the HYC called for the establishment of detoxification, OST (Opioid Substitution Therapy), and day-care centres that provide free services to addicts.
Synrem also expressed concern over the growing availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances in the state, much of which, he believes, is being supplied from outside. He suggested that law enforcement agencies adopt a more stringent strategy to reduce the influx of drugs into Meghalaya. A special police team should be formed to tackle this issue, and collaboration with the BSF, Customs, and the Narcotics Control Bureau should be enhanced through joint operations and information sharing. He also urged the NCB to establish an office in Meghalaya, noting that the state has become a major transit route for drug smuggling, as acknowledged by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityananda Rai. Given the rapid increase in the number of drug users — from 2 lakh in 2023 to 3 lakh in 2024 — he stressed that a local NCB office is essential for better coordination and monitoring of drug-related activities in the state.
HYC’s ‘DEED’ Mission
Meanwhile, the HYC has launched the “Drugs Elimination and Enforcement of DREAM (DEED) Mission” to pressure the government to take proactive steps in eliminating drug-related issues in Shillong and the state. Synrem expressed gratitude to the government for launching the DREAM policy in 2023, aimed at transforming Meghalaya into a “Drug-Free State.”
While acknowledging the policy’s comprehensive nature, Synrem voiced concern that it risks becoming another government document that looks good on paper but fails to be implemented effectively.