By Felix Anthony
Dollungmukh: A police officer in Arunachal Pradesh, who had survived murderous attack by drug traffickers, on June 10 called for a collective fight against the increasing menace of substance abuse in the northeastern Indian state.
“It is worrying that the people who hold responsibilities in government, police officers, public leaders, bureaucrats, student leaders, students, teachers, businessmen and women and village heads are involved in this menace as traffickers, facilitators or as addicts,” lamented Dumgandu Singpho, an inspector in Dollungmukh Police Station in Kamle District.
He said he is “deeply disturbed” over the involvement of police personnel in the spread of the substance abuse in Arunachal Pradesh.
In May alone, the Arunachal Pradesh Police registered 86 First Information Reports and arrested 143 people in connection with drug consumption and trafficking. At least 14 police personnel were arrested and suspended in the past six months. Two were dismissed from service for their involvement in this social evil, Singpho explained.
Singpho, who suffered a life threatening attack by drug addicts in 2016 while on duty in Mahadevpur, says the police alone cannot solve the problem. It needs a collective effort.
“The initiatives by some of our elders, NGOs, local organization, students and youth organization, public leaders, and women welfare associations in controlling the anti-social activities should not be allowed to die down. Instead it should be continued by the younger generation and by all like-minded people or organizations,” he added.
Expressing his concerns on the worrying issue, the officer says all of these addicts are victims who once had dreams, hopes and wishes for a beautiful life ahead of them. “They still do. But they lack the will power to come out of their addiction.”
“With my years of observation, I have experienced drug addicts can to go any extent to satisfy their cravings. When they do not get the substance they can even take the life of their parents, partners, near and dear ones and friends.”
“Our homes, our life and property and above all our children’s life are not safe. The substance abuse has spread into the last villages of Arunachal and it is more dangerous than any kind of lethal weapons. It doesn’t spare anyone, whether you are old or young, men or women, adult or children – it kills everyone.”
Appealing to all sections of society, the officer says the substance abuse lies at the root of all other social evils in the state and it has reached “the very nerves of society.”
“We need to have collective fight against this social evil, which is slowly spreading into our own families, our schools, colleges, universities, offices and work places. The time to act is now. We should start the fight now. If we do not act now, then we put all our future generation into jeopardy. If we do not end this menace, it will end us all.”
“All our collective efforts should keep on rolling till we see the light of hope turn bright and all the addicted victims, traffickers and facilitators of our society get reconciled and become normal citizens of the state,” he adds.
Meanwhile, to tackle the continuing menace of drug abuse in Arunachal Pradesh, state Chief Secretary Naresh Kumar has announced that toxicology test will be carried out on government employees and strict action will be taken on those testing positive.
Namsai, Lohit, Dibang Valley, Upper Siang, Anjaw, Changlang, Tirap and West Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh are said to be among the 272 worst drug abuse affected districts in India.