By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Sep 2: Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh on Tuesday called upon local Dorbar Shnongs to step up efforts against drug trafficking by setting up Village Defence Parties (VDPs) in their respective localities.
Lyngdoh said the state government recently revised the honorarium for VDP members, increasing the yearly incentive from Rs 800 to Rs 3,000. He said the members would not be expected to patrol streets round the clock but provide intelligence and leads to the police.
He expressed disappointment that Shillong, with a population of more than six lakh, currently has only 11 VDPs. “We had a well-attended meeting at the NEC building in Nongrim Hills with the representatives of major Dorbar Shnongs. I appealed to them to make use of the VDP scheme, which is a recognised legal entity working in coordination with the police and offering legal coverage and protection,” Lyngdoh said.
He added that the fight against narcotics is a joint responsibility, saying, “This is not government versus people, but government and people together.”
On enforcement, Lyngdoh said six repeat offenders have been booked under the PITNDPS Act and detained for a year, with the period extendable in case of further violations.
He highlighted the government’s support to enforcement agencies, noting that the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) personnel and volunteers had received cash incentives, including Rs 10,000 per volunteer, for the first time.
The Minister underlined that policing must remain in the hands of trained authorities, cautioning against vigilante-style activism.
“The ANTF is now a dedicated police unit led by an SP, with its own vehicles and trained staff. They are active daily in areas like Iewduh and cantonment, which were not covered earlier,” he said.
He cautioned that vigilante-style activism is not only illegal but that, it also weakens the government’s efforts to tackle the menace of drug trafficking.
Recently, a video, showing a group of drug addicts being beaten up in a corner, went viral on social media.
The Minister said, “It is illegal and dangerous for untrained individuals to confront suspected peddlers directly, as they risk exposure to contaminated syringes and other hazards”.
“You cannot tackle drugs by going on this vigilantism because, for instance, when you seize drugs from somebody, they are now under your possession and you may be accused,” he added.