Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday launched a drive to destroy INR 472 crore worth of seized drugs across the state in the next 10 days.
NALBARI — Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday launched a drive to destroy INR 472 crore worth of seized drugs across the state in the next 10 days.
Launching the exercise in Nalbari district, he said that the state will be "ruthless" in handling narcotics cases in order to make Assam drug-free.
"At the launch of Assam's state-wide narcotics destruction drive at the 14th APBN campus, Daulashal, Nalbari, HCM Dr @himantabiswa announced that drugs worth over INR 472.51 crore seized by Assam Police will be destroyed over the next 10 days," the Chief Minister's Office said in a post on X.
Sarma said that the state government is going a step ahead with the Centre's help as it looks to dismantle the inter-state drugs cartel in the coming period.
"This Centre-state joint approach will help us track illicit substances movement, identify history sheeters, catch them at the borders before they enter Assam and prepare a strong case to prosecute them. We will be ruthless in this fight against drugs -- that's a promise and warning," he added.
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The chief minister reiterated that border fencing alone is not helpful in this regard and therefore, it is necessary to try to eradicate the rackets involved in drugs.
"The Government of Assam will take stern action against drugs in the next five years and international cooperation will be sought in this regard," he added.
Sarma said that over the last five years, different agencies in Assam have seized over INR 3,000 crore of drugs, arrested over 26,000 involved and charged them under NDPS to build a strong deterrence.
Later speaking to the media, the chief minister said that the Assam government's fight against drugs in the state will be accelerated in the next five years.
"For this, the government will use technology and seek the cooperation of the people so that the guilty can be punished severely under the laws in court," he added.
Sarma said the Assam Police have already been directed to take strong action against drug peddlers and urged the people to be aware of such criminals.
"The public should report such information to the police immediately, and technology will be used properly in this regard. Training has been arranged among the police personnel in this regard, as in many cases, the guilty persons escape in court due to lack of sufficient and proper evidence," he added.
Sarma, who also holds the Home portfolio, said that the police should gather evidence against the guilty so that they can be convicted in court.
He added that regular meetings have been held with DGPs of all states at the Union Home Minister level to enhance inter-state cooperation.
Sarma said that cooperation has been received from Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and West Bengal to fight against drugs.
He further said that rehabilitation is very important in the field of drugs and this time the government has decided to pay more attention to awareness and rehabilitation.