GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, July 7, appealed to all political parties to extend firm support to the Assam Police in their crackdown on the drug menace.
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Responding to a discussion on drug abuse on the second day of the Budget Session, Sarma asked members of the House to appreciate the difficult conditions under which police personnel operate while breaking up organised narcotics networks. He also pushed back against efforts to give the drug problem a communal angle, maintaining that addiction affects both majority and minority communities alike.
The Chief Minister pointed out that his government had earlier taken ownership of a large-scale anti-drug drive during its previous term, but noted an inconsistency: even as the government cracks down on those involved in trafficking, the police often face criticism inside the Assembly whenever they take firm action, with encounters or tough enforcement measures triggering swift backlash. He urged the House to be more understanding of the ground realities officers deal with.
He further said that trafficking networks are often run by hardened operators who aren't deterred by ordinary legal processes. He added that continued cooperation from Assembly members, as seen during the day's discussion, would help the police carry out their duties effectively, stressing that enforcement agencies struggle without political backing