Drug mece takes its toll on Gitagar children

By our staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, August 26: “The children and youth in the Gitagar area in the city are badly in the grip of drug and alcohol addiction,” alleged Area Sabha member Gagan Chandra Sarma.

Sarma said: “Law and order is not properly maintained in the area. Though the Gitagar police patrols the area, the general public are not satisfied with the role of the police."

Sarma said: “As the BG Yard is situated near the Gitagar area, trucks and other heavy vehicles are parked on the road. As often as not, the inebriated drivers and handymen of the trucks who take rest in the area harass the local people in the evening. A section of these truckers are the ones who lure boys and children to drugs, alcoholic drinks and dendrite. The addicted children often steal from the local shops so as to buy drugs, dendrite and drinks. They  have started binge drinking.”

The garik Committee member Tanmay Das said: “Gitagar doesn’t fall in a particular police station -- while some of its areas fall in Gitagar police station, some others fall in Chandmari and Noonmati police stations. Sometimes, the police pass the buck on another police station when approached with complaints, leading to delay in redressing complaints. Those who are on the wrong side of the law take this opportunity to carry out illegal activities in the area. Another important place in the area is Gitamandir which is 800 metres atop the hill. The way leading to the temple has no street lights. After sunset the dark path is the haven for addicted youth to consume dendrite, drugs and illicit liquor. The police patrolling makes four rounds in the area a day, but no action has been taken against anyone as yet. The youths use the public kitchen of the mandir.”

Das also said: "There are many who make illicit liquor in the factory at Baikuntha gar. They supply the illicit liquor to the Railway Colony through the Panipath by-lane and sell it at Gate No. 6 in the Colony. A section of police personnel take bribes from the liquor vendors and allow them to continue their business."

A Gitagar police station official said: “We are trying our best to bring the situation under control, but due to lack of evidences we can’t take action. We caught many children and youths in the area when they were taking drugs, but we can’t punish them like other crimils. So we release them after detention for sometime.. The need of the hour is awareness against drugs.”