Guwahati, July 19 (NKTV): Stating that illegal drugs trade in Assam is worth about Rs 5,000 crore annually, Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma Sunday urged the police to be unrelenting in their war on drugs. He also emphasised the need for proper rehabilitation of reformed drug addicts and directed the Health and the Social Welfare departments to work together in this regard.
“Drugs worth Rs 163 crore were seized between May 10 to July 15 this year. If this is, say, 20 per cent of the drugs which are being trafficked through the state every month, the trade in illegal drugs in Assam would be of at least Rs 5,000 crore per year” the CM said while speaking at a programme for disposal of the seized drugs at Barhampur in Nagaon district.
“When even one member of a family becomes an addict, the entire family is ruined. The addicts steal from their own homes or even threaten and extract money from the members. And at last, many even take recourse to crimes and anti-social activities” he said.
“I have given permission (to police) for extreme action (against drug peddlers), but within the law” he added.