Reported by: Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Friday said the government would take action as per law against police personnel if they were found involved in drug trafficking, trade, harbouring or other related activities.
He informed the state Assembly that the conviction rate in cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act had risen to 14.7 per cent till July this year.
Replying to a question from Congress MLA Gopal Chandra Roy on the second day of the Assembly session, Saha said, “The government was pursuing a policy of zero tolerance against drug trafficking and would take strict action against police personnel if their involvement was established.”
Roy expressed concern over the growing drug trade and its impact on young people and questioned how effective action could be taken against major drug networks if members of the police force were themselves involved.
He also sought details on the number of police personnel allegedly involved in drug trafficking who had been detained, arrested or chargesheeted, as well as the number of FIRs registered against them.
In his reply, Saha said the government was working with the police, Border Security Force and other agencies to prevent drug trafficking and consumption. He said action was being taken against those involved in drug-related offences alongside awareness programmes.
The chief minister also said synthetic drugs were entering Tripura from outside the state. “Some people from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi had been arrested in connection with drug trafficking cases,” Saha said.
Saha said the government was focusing on increasing the conviction rate in NDPS cases. Government prosecutors and assistant government prosecutors were holding meetings with police officers to improve coordination in investigation and prosecution, he said.
The chief minister said directions had also been issued to take action against drug addicts and small-scale drug peddlers. “In cases where the offenders are found to be juveniles, action would be taken in accordance with law, greater emphasis would be placed on targeting larger drug networks,” he said.
On allegations of involvement of some police personnel in drug trafficking, Saha said action had already been taken against those whose involvement had been established. He reiterated that the government would not compromise even when police personnel were involved and that strict action would be taken according to law.
He said enforcement drives and awareness programmes would continue to prevent both drug consumption and trafficking in the state.