NPP State unit has expressed deep concern over the rising cases of drugs and tobacco addiction, especially among the youngsters, in Nagaland.
Claiming that the State had become a haven for drug peddlers and addicts like Punjab in the past, the party, in a press release , said many youth had either ruined their lives or were on the verge of complete addiction due to this menace, which had remained unchecked for many years despite numerous concerns expressed by NGOs and other forums, including Kripa Foundation and Federation of Indian NGOs for Prevention of Drugs Abuse – Nagaland Chapter.
Though drug abuse prevailed across India, the party alleged the Northeast had linkages with the global narcotics industry. Ever since the international crackdown on the Golden Triangle in the late 1980s, it said a huge chunk of narcotics left Nagaland everyday unchecked and right under the nose of the authorities.
Drugs like opium, brown sugar, heroin, cannabis and others were brought into Nagaland from Myanmar via national highways and further transported to other parts of India. NPP alleged there were well-established cartels, especially in Dimapur that were run and managed by a network of influential and powerful people who were well protected.
Tobacco abuse, even though banned throughout Nagaland and under the COTPA Act and in the vicinity of educational institutions, there was rampant supply and clandestine sale of such products in broad daylight. Despite the initiatives taken by various village, colony and ward councils, there was little respite in the supply and sale of these products. The party said it was high time to give it a serious thought and mete out harshest punishment possible to those individuals and organisations that were destroying the society and next generation for easy money.
Further, claiming that many unscrupulous elements had made Nagaland their hub for peddling drugs and tobacco products, NPP noted that though the police, acting on tip-offs and inputs, were able to put some petty peddlers behind bars, there was no action taken against the masterminds and kingpins. Despite concrete and sufficient evidences against these kingpins, the party alleged that they were able to escape the clutches of law as they had multifarious connections.
The State government and its agencies, including the police and Narcotics Department should therefore be on high alert, it emphasised.
NPP warned that Nagaland would become the next drug capital of the country soon if the government, police, civil city organisations, church bodies and common people did not open their eyes to the menace and take drastic measures against these notorious activities. It suggested that the colonies, wards and villages of various districts should devise their own strategies for curbing such illegal activities by setting up local vigilance committees.
It said the state government should also conduct regular awareness camps on this pertinent issue in all the districts so that the public was made aware about their roles and responsibilities.
