SHILLONG, July 16 � With a large number of floating population being added to �cosmopolitan Shillong,� drug abuse is increasing in the State Capital and the police are seeking the cooperation of the citizens to reverse this negative trend.
�Drug abuse is increasing in Shillong as there is a growing demand for drugs from young people of the city who come to study here and also because of the Cosmopolitan nature of the city,� East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police, M Kharkrang said.
He said that the police have adopted a two-pronged approach to combat the menace of drug abuse. First, Kharkrang said, the police force is �going all out� against drug abusers and peddlers, but also taking the assistance of the public.�We are holding awareness programmes in schools and colleges on drug abuse as part of the Safe-Secure-Shillong project. On July 19 we would be holding another such meeting with Citizen�s Committees to find ways in fighting this menace of drug abuse together,�
He added that Citizens� Committees have been formed not just in East Khasi Hills district, but all over the State at the Police Station level, so that the elders of the community could contribute in suggesting means in fighting social evils, such as drug abuse and others.
He said that drug abuse is not just confined to Spasmo Proxymon tablets and other such drugs sold illegally over the shelf in drug stores, but abuse of Heroin and Brown Sugar is also a concern.
Kharkrang, moreover informed, that Madanriting, in the outskirts of the city, has become a centre from drug suppliers. On July 10 an Assam Rifles Jawan and his wife were arrested and 101 grams of heroin was seized from them at Madanriting. Similar seizures of drugs were also reported on earlier occasions in the area.
He said that most of the drugs come into the State from Myanmar after crossing over through neighbouring States. Kharkrang said the police therefore are keeping a strict vigil in this area.