Shillong, July 3: The anti-narcotic task force (ANTF) in South West Khasi Hills (SWKH) District has allegedly failed to make any arrest against drug traffickers operating in the district.
This was informed by a delegation of the Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) and traditional heads to the social welfare minister Paul Lyngdoh while requesting his intervention on the need to immediately address the drug menace problem, which has affected the youths of the region.
The delegation also urged the state government to empower the traditional heads and functionaries to deal with the issue of drug menace through a notification.
Addressing the media after the meeting, KSU-SWKHD president Forwardman Nongrem said, “We have not seen police arresting any drug peddlers in the district despite several requests made to the district administration and police department for action on the issue. There is total lack of effort and due to this we have urged the minister to direct the police department to deal with the issue seriously.”
He said the ANTF in the other districts are making arrests of drug traffickers almost on a daily basis but this is not the case when it comes to the ANTF in South West Khasi Hills District; it exists only for namesake.
Asked if the delegation would seek action against the failure of the ANTF, Nongrem however said, “We hope that the minister, who is also part and parcel of this government, will take necessary action on this matter.”
Asserting the need to set up rehabilitation centres in Mawkyrwat or any other locations, the KSU leader said this is because majority of the drug addicts are coming from poor families.
“We have also requested the government to prepare for a mandatory follow up procedure against those arrested in drug related cases because we have seen after they are released by the competent authority, they continue to do the same thing,” he said while adding that the government is also requested to set up a district level committee and a block level committee on drug abuse.
The deputy commissioner should head the district level committee while the district social welfare officer should be the member secretary.
Further, Nongrem said, “We have also requested the government to empower the village authority because traditional heads including the village youth organization (Seng Samla) cannot protect themselves from any legal consequences while dealing with drug related issues. In view of this, we insisted on the minister to issue a government notification that will empower the traditional heads and functionaries.”
He informed that the minister has assured to look into the concerns raised by the delegation.
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