Drug use is growing in Manipur and youth, mostly teenagers, are falling victim to it, according to local civil society activists.
In this regard, Chief Minister N. Biren Singh has said that his government has “declared war on drugs” and steps are being taken to counter it. Manipur has long been a transit corridor for transportation of drugs between rest of India and Myanmar.
“In the last one year, 600 peddlers were arrested and are in jail. We have set up two fast-track courts, one for crimes against women and other for drug use. Poppy cultivation happening in thousands of acres in the border areas have been destroyed,” Mr. Singh told a group of visiting journalists.
Early this year, 10,000 hectares of poppy plantation was destroyed with the help of the Army and Assam Rifles. “Now they are being provided with lemon grass and other organic crops,” he stated.
The good news, Mr. Singh said, is that people are now “coming out and informing” about drug peddlers.
‘Easy money’
Lack of employment and poor economic conditions are the primary drivers pushing people to become drug peddlers, many of whom later turn into users, says Abid Hussain, Tribe Secretary of All Lilong Anti-Drug Association (ALADA), a civil organisation based in Lilong. “So for livelihood, drug peddling brings easy money,” he stated.
He said since July 2017, ALADA with the support of security forces has seized drugs worth ₹6 crore. Some drugs are brought in illegally while others come in through pharmacy licences.
Apart from heroin, other popular drugs are N10 and spasmo proxyvon. One of the most popular and fast-spreading drug is WY (World is Yours) which comes from Myanmar, said Ngaineikim Haokip, president of the Kuki Women Human Rights Organisation which works in Churachandpur district of Manipur.
In April this year, Assam Rifles seized 38.52 kg of WY estimated to be worth ₹16 crore from a bus in Tengnoupal district.
Ms. Haokip said that Kuki Inpi, the apex body of Kuki people, has formed a committee on drugs. “This is not a society we want our children to grow in,” she added.
The biggest drawback in the fight against drug use is rehabilitation centres, the activists said. There are very few rehabilitation centres, of which a majority are private run and are very expensive for common people.
Published - November 04, 2018 09:51 pm IST
