Shillong, Mar 11: Cases of drug trafficking are increasing in the plain belt region of the West Garo Hills region.
This was informed by Social Welfare Minister Paul Lyngdoh in a reply tabled in the Assembly today.
Lyngdoh said that drug victims are increasing among the youth of West Garo Hills district and thus drugs peddlers and smugglers of plain belt areas and those of neighboring states and a country (Bangladesh) are also increasing as the region is channeled to both neighboring states like Assam and West Bengal (through Brahmaputra River) and neighboring country Bangladesh.
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He said that in the recent months from January 2025 till date, one drug related case has been detected and registered in the plain belt areas of West Garo Hills district in Tillapara Bongarpar, Tikrikilla and the case has been registered with the Tikrikilla police station under the relevant sections of the NDPS Act, 1985.
Further, the minister informed that the Anti Narcotic Task Force (ANTF) has been formed in the district to combat drug trafficking and other NDPS related cases in the district.
Tura civil hospital addiction treatment facility is available for those affected by drug abuse. The facility is supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, he added.
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(Newmai News Network)