Guwahati: Assam government has launched a series of drug-disposing events, where various banned psychotropic items, seized by Assam police personnel in the last few days, have been destroyed in full public view. State chief minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma himself attended two such programs at Golaghat and Diphu on Saturday, where he set on fire on the pile of illegal items. Two similar programs are organized at Hojai and Nagaon on Sunday.
At Golaghat in central Assam, the authority destroyed 802-gram heroin (worth more than rupees 20 crore), 1205 kg ganja/cannabis, 3 kilogram opium and 2,06,906 number of banned tablets, where State ministers Ajanta Neog, Atul Bora, Keshab Mahanta, Ashok Singhal, Jogen Mohan, legislators Prasanta Phukan, Bhabendra Nath Bharali, Biswajit Phukan with others were present.
“We are committed to create a drug free Assam and to ensure it Assam police have been given complete operational freedom within the law,” said CM Sarma, a prominent saffron leader of the region, adding thatthe policy of zero tolerance against drug traffickers and dealers would continue until the youth could be saved from the scourge.
At Diphu, 11.88 kg morphine, 2.89 kg crystal meth, 3.47 kg heroin, 102.91 kg cannabis and 2,03,384 number of tablets were destroyed, where Karbi Anglong autonomous council chief Tuliram Ronghang, State assembly’s deputy speaker Dr Numol Momin, several legislators, State police chief Bhaskarjyoti Mahanta, a number of KAAC members were present.
Addressing the gathering, Sarma asserted that the illegal drugs consumption has adversely affected many families posing a serious threat to the entire young generation. Assam was initially emerged asa transit route for drug-dealers, but gradually the State turned intoa big market even though the government continued its efforts againstthe menace, added the energetic saffron leader.
Understanding the gravity of the problem, he stated, the government asked the police to deal with the drug peddlers firmly and decisively. Since 10 May, the day Sarma led government assumed office, the police have registered 874 cases where drugs worth rupees 163 crores were seized in the state. Over 1490 drug-dealers were also arrested. During this period, the police seized 19 kg heroin, 8276 kg ganja, 14 kg opium, 67,650 numbers of cough syrup, 12,93,000 numbers of tablets,1920 kg morphine, 33,014 poppy straws, etc. However, Sarma believesthat the seized amount could be only 10 percent of the volume of drugsentered into Assam and it is now a thousand crore illegal trade.
He also thanked Union home minister Amit Shah, Manipur and Nagaland governments for their supports in the ongoing fight against the illegal drugs. At the same time, Sarma appreciated the performance of the State police forces. He did not forget to assure the hills district residents of due developmental activities from the government including an airport in Karbi Anglong.
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