The Governor said that the Indian national drug peddlers and smugglers allied with the smugglers of Myanmar and Bangladesh are doing the clandestine and illegal drug business dangerously harming the people of northeastern states.
“The alliance of Indian nationals with the foreign nationals involved in the drugs peddling and smuggling should be curbed at once for the interest of the people and the nation,” he told the media.
The Governor was talking to the media at the Raj Bhavan after attending the virtual address of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vice Chancellors of Universities across the country.
He said that people from all walks of life must come forward against the illegal drugs trade and various drugs related activities. The governor said that drug peddling is a crime against the nation.
Assam Rifles have made a series of seizures in the last couple of years in Mizoram. Recently, the Assam Rifles arrested a Myanmar national and seized a huge cache of drugs, valued at Rs 45 crore from his possession.Lt Gen Rana Pratap Kalita, the Eastern Army Commander said that when fighting intensifies in Myanmar villagers cross over to the Indian side and gradually return. Common villages seeking refugees are not stopped.Kalita who was in Guwahati on November 21 said, “As people share ethnicity it is a very porous border including the Free movement regime (FMR). FMR was suspended during the COVID however people have become so used to it. It becomes difficult to identify who are people from our nation and others. Whenever fighting intensifies between the Myanmar army and pro-democracy forces, areas close to border people cross over, some go back and some stay back.”
He added, “There are some limited numbers of people who sought shelter in Manipur and larger numbers in Mizoram. There is a process which is followed in consultation with the state government and whenever they want to go back, they are sent back, but the directions are very clear that no armed cadres are allowed to enter. Identify all these people, record biometric, establish camps, keep them localised. Records are kept ensuring that they are not part of any rebel group. There has been recovery of a lot of contraband drugs and narcotics from people who are coming, so we are keeping a very close eye on drug peddlers”.