Considering the growing drug trafficking across the border with Tripura, the government with its policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against drug trafficking will work together with all enforcing agencies to uproot the menace from Northeastern states, said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.

Considering the growing drug trafficking across the border with Tripura, the government with its policy of ‘zero tolerance’ against drug trafficking will work together with all enforcing agencies to uproot the menace from Northeastern states, said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha.

The Chief Minister inaugurated the two-day 27th Conference of Police DGPs and IGs and heads of Central Police Organizations (CPOs) of Northeast region on law and order situation in the region here at Pragna Bhavan on Tuesday morning in presence of Chief Secretary J. K. Sinha, DGP Amitabh Ranjan along with Police DGs and IGs of Northeastern states, Central Investigation Bureau (CBI), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and High-ranking officials of different levels were present in the conference.

The Chief Minister said, drugs are entering the Northeastern states through illegal ways from neighbouring countries and drugs from different states and countries are also entering Tripura. The central government is working with ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ against drugs and the state government is also continuing its drive against drugs along with all the states of the Northeast.

He said that the Northeastern states will take up certain active plans and steps against drugs menaces during two days conference and alcohol related issues, terrorism and illegal infiltration will also be discussed in the conference.

Dr Saha said, there has been huge improvement in the law and order of the Northeast. There are no black days of terrorism in the region. He said that the border fencing is almost complete in all border areas of the state and remaining unfenced areas to be covered soon and to check the infiltration and trans-border criminal activities, regular communication is being done with the Bangladesh government.

While accepting the concern over the drug trafficking in the state, Dr Saha said that the drug supply chain from Myanmar through Mizoram and Assam border has emerged as a major problem for northeastern states. The two-day meeting of DGPs and heads of CPOs of the Northeast region will highlight the problem and find ways for tackling it effectively.

He said that Tripura is being used as a corridor for drug trafficking from Myanmar to Bangladesh through Mizoram and Assam and there will also be discussion on how to curb Cannabis smuggling from Tripura to other states. Though, Tripura is second in seizure and destruction of various drugs in the region.

Although such a conference was supposed to take place once a year to enhance cooperation among the security agencies, it could not take place for the past three years because of Covid pandemic and other issues said Dr Saha and stressed on cooperation among the state police and the central security agencies to address the security challenges in the region.

When asked about the entry of Rohingyas, Dr Saha, who holds the Home portfolio, said many Rohingyas were detained in Tripura and legal action taken against illegal infiltrators.

He said that the central government is working for the development of the Northeast under Act East Policy and all states are jointly working together towards development. He said, the Northeast is being seen as the Ashtalakhsmi. This has been possible with the positive outlook of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This kind of conference has been organized after a long period of time, which is good news for the citizens of the state, said the Chief Minister and hoped for the overall success of the conference.

It may be recalled here that DGs and IGs of all the Northeastern states and senior officials of security and intelligence agencies will draw up a comprehensive strategy to address the common security concern at the conference.