GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday, July 7, urged all political parties to extend unequivocal support to the Assam Police in its fight against the drug menace, saying law enforcement agencies need political backing to dismantle organised narcotics syndicates operating across the state.
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Replying to a discussion on drug abuse during the second day of the Budget Session of the Assam Assembly, Sarma said the House must recognise the difficult conditions under which police personnel operate while taking on heavily armed drug traffickers.
Welcoming the constructive participation of both treasury and opposition members in the debate, the Chief Minister said some major drug cases had also been handed over to the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) for investigation into interstate and international trafficking links.
"Our relentless war against drugs is delivering decisive results. Under Mission #AssamAgainstDrugs, narcotics worth over ₹3,253 crore have been seized and more than 26,500 offenders arrested since 2021. We will continue this crackdown until the entire drug network is dismantled," Sarma said.
Reiterating his government's zero-tolerance policy towards criminals who attack police personnel, Sarma said the Assam Police has been given full freedom to take the strictest action permitted under the law.
"Whenever the police take strong action against drug traffickers, criticism follows. If there is an encounter or firm police action, protests begin immediately. The Assembly must understand the realities faced by our police personnel," he said.
The Chief Minister argued that hardened drug traffickers, often dealing with consignments worth crores of rupees, operate without fear of conventional legal deterrence and frequently attack police teams.
"In such situations, the police have to respond decisively. Earlier, we even had to defend our actions before the Supreme Court. The House should stand with the police when they act firmly against drug traffickers," he said.
Sarma maintained that sustained political consensus was essential for effective enforcement.
"If the cooperation shown by members today continues, our police will always be able to perform their duties effectively. Without political support, enforcement agencies inevitably face hurdles," he added.
The Chief Minister also cautioned legislators against communalising the issue after some members suggested that drug abuse was concentrated within a particular community. Tracing the supply chain, he said investigations consistently pointed to trafficking routes originating along the Myanmar border through Mizoram and Manipur.
"When we analyse the supply chain, the trail eventually reaches the Myanmar border through Mizoram and Manipur. The Union Government under Home Minister Amit Shah has already initiated measures to strengthen enforcement along these routes. With coordinated efforts, we can intensify our action against these syndicates," he said.
While advocating stringent action against traffickers, Sarma stressed that rehabilitation of drug addicts deserved equal attention. Expressing concern over reports of narcotics being supplied inside some rehabilitation centres, he urged non-governmental organisations to establish more de-addiction facilities and assured financial assistance from the state government through a dedicated support scheme.
The discussion was initiated by Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar, who questioned the effectiveness of the state's anti-drug campaign despite large-scale seizures and arrests.
"Where do these drugs originate? Where is the syndicate? If so many people have been arrested, why is drug consumption still increasing? We need to eliminate this problem from its roots," Sikdar said.
He informed the House that nearly 1,300 NDPS cases had been registered in 2026 alone, resulting in around 1,900 arrests and seizures of heroin, cannabis, psychotropic tablets, cough syrups and other narcotic substances.
Members across party lines, including AIUDF MLA Badruddin Ajmal, BPF MLA Rupam Chandra Roy, AGP legislator Deepak Kumar Das, BJP MLA Bhupen Bora and lone AITC MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed, also called for stronger measures to tackle the drug menace.
Replying on behalf of the government, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said Assam's anti-drug campaign had intensified significantly since the present government assumed office.
He said 195 NDPS cases with 217 arrests were recorded in 2011, while intensified enforcement led to 2,256 cases and 4,175 arrests in 2021. The state registered 2,878 cases in 2022, 3,350 in 2023, 3,323 in 2024, and around 3,500 cases with 4,901 arrests in 2025.
"The figures are not meant for comparison but to demonstrate how seriously this government is fighting the drug menace," Hazarika said.
He also highlighted the Drugs Free Assam mobile application, launched in December 2021, through which citizens can anonymously report drug-related activities. According to Hazarika, the application has received more than 500 inputs so far, leading to the arrest of around 30 people.