Part-III

Some drug peddlers used to sale illegal drugs to local consumers in some selected areas in and around Guwahati city like vicinity of railway station, Manipuribasti, Lokhra, Fatasil Ambari, Hatigaon, Zoo-Narengi road, six-mile and Maligaon area. Sometimes back, a news item was published in dailies that the anti-narcotics cell of the CID proposed a dog squad to detect drugs and carry out raids against smugglers and peddlers in the city and necessary proposal was submitted to the Narcotics Control Bureau around ten months back seeking 10 trained dogs. Since we do not have the present status of the dog squad, we request the anti-narcotic cell of CID to press the Narcotics Control bureau for immediate sanction of the proposal already submitted if not sanctioned by the authority. Guwahati is the favourite transit point for transporting illegal drugs from Myanmar via Manipur and Nagaland and also banned psychotropic substances like pharmaceutical tablets and codeine-based cough syrups which are imported to Assam from States like Bengal, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and later smuggled to Bangladesh, Myanmar and other northeastern States the city as reported.

It is heartening to go through news item in respect of cultivation of cannabis in vast char areas of Assam, along the border with Bangladesh and along the Kamrup-Goalpara stretch of the Brahmaputra during the dry season. Further, it was also reported that the customs officials of northeastern Region also inform their headquarters in respect of involvement of suspected foreign national in cannabis plantation in the char areas of Assam. This is a very serious observation by the Customs officials. But it is unfortunate why the Assam Government failed to take any positive steps to stop such cannabis plantation in char areas of Assam by the people of suspected nationality, though the Customs office of northeastern Region informed the State government as reported. We request the State Government to take immediate steps to stop cannabis cultivation in char areas of Assam, bordering Bangladesh and in other areas of the State by the doubtful nationality. As reported in local dailies sometimes back that analysis paper submitted to the Union Government stated that the farmers of these areas start cultivation of cannabis, instead of rice or potatoes because of the huge profit margin in cannabis. But at any cost, the cultivation of cannabis should be stopped whatever be the profit margin to save the young generations. To sum up, in regards to the drug abuse and illegal trafficking, all section of the society should come forward to stop these social menace. It may be stated that recently one news item appeared in a section of media quoting Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra that the Maharashtra Government decided to impose complete ban on gutka and pan masala within the entire State of Maharashtra and even when the State will incur a loss revenue of one hundred crore per year, they are taking this steps in the interest of the life of the young generation. Our question to the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, is why the Assam Government cannot follow the Maharashtra Government to impose complete ban on gutka and pan masala to save the young generation of the State. Regarding the loss of revenue due to ban of these items, the State Government should discuss with the economist of the State to generate revenue from other items which will not effect the poor people.(Concluded)

—Pradip Kakati