SILCHAR, Feb 22 - Admitting that generations have been affected due to the menace of drugs in Assam and Barak Valley in particular, Director General of Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta, has said that ongoing efforts against the menace shall be intensified in the coming days.
Addressing citizens of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi in a first of its kind meeting at Banga Bhawan during his one-day visit to Silchar on Saturday, Mahanta, in reply to a question on the steps taken by police in checking the chain of drugs racket said, �bulk of the drug consignments come from Myanmar and goes through the corridor of Barak Valley to Bangladesh. We shall have to be more proactive in catching not just the drug peddlers but the key players as well which have roots not just in Myanmar but also in China and intensify drives in this region. People from the society must also cooperate police in the mission.�
In the interaction, the DGP was quick to respond to questions raised on cases against women and human trafficking. In his words, rate of conviction of cases falling under the POCSO Act is not satisfactory. Hence, instructions have been given to the department officials and talks are being held with the UNICEF in order to assist the investigating officers in such cases.
Mahanta opined that setting up of a forensic laboratory in Barak Valley is the need of the hour to expedite investigation of cases and aid the justice system. Responding to questions on the modernisation of the Police department and manpower crunch, the DGP was of the view that soon there will be a recruitment drive to fill up as many as 15,000 vacant posts in the Police Department and assured that Barak Valley will also have equal share of the induction of policemen. He said that while the Armed Forces are adequate in the State, the ratio of Civil Police per one lakh population as compared to the national index is an area of concern which would be addressed with priority.
Interestingly, the DGP showed keen interest in responding to the questions on traffic management system and urged the people to assist the police in maintaining discipline in traffic.
Further, the DGP also said that he has reviewed the situation across three districts of Barak Valley and also the Dima Hasao district and assured people of Karimganj that Assam Police is in close contact with the Border Security Force regarding issues along the Indo-Bangla International Border.
Padma Shri awardee Dr Ravi Kannan, former Union Minister Kabindra Purakayastha also shared their views on the occasion. While DIG (SR) Dilip Kumar Dey delivered the welcome address and narrated the profile of the DGP before the gathering, Cachar SP Manabendra Dev Ray delivered the concluding remarks at the meeting.
