Shillong, July 2: The Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) has sought urgent police action against an “alarming rise” in drug peddling and drug abuse in Harijan Colony at Them Iew Mawlong, Shillong.
The HCP also suggested a few measures to tackle the menace, including approval to set up a youth volunteer wing to curb narcotics trade in the area.
The HPC, in a letter to police authorities, said drug peddlers were openly selling narcotics in the locality despite complaints in the past.
The menace has caused “severe social and health hazards” with more and more youth falling prey to drugs.
“It is strongly apprehended that these peddlers are deliberately targeting and encouraging the youth of our community with ulterior motives to morally degrade our society and ensure that we cannot stand as respectable and believable citizens of the state,” the HPC said.
The HPC made the appeal following its general body meeting on June 28 where residents unanimously resolved to take “prompt and stringent community action” against drug peddling with active police help.
The meeting resolved to constitute a “Youth Volunteer Task Team” comprising verified residents aged 18-35 years to assist police in surveillance and reporting.
The HPC also requested the police to depute an officer to train volunteers on legal procedures, surveillance methods, safe conduct, and reporting, and to approve a system of Volunteer Identity Cards countersigned by the In-Charge of the Police Beat House for proper coordination.
“We humbly submit that Section 43 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 empowers any person to apprehend an offender and hand over the narcotic drug or psychotropic substance to an officer empowered under the Act,” the HPC said.
“In light of this provision, our trained Youth Volunteers, under proper police guidance and supervision, can act as responsible citizens to assist the Police Department in apprehending peddlers and handing them over to the law.”
The committee assured full cooperation and compliance with all legal guidelines and said the initiative aims solely to “protect our youth, maintain law and order, and make Harijan Colony a drug-free locality in the larger interest of society.”
According to HPC, the team will conduct daily patrols in groups of 4-5 from 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM covering Shaheed Bhagat Singh Road, public lanes, the market area and the syndicate bus stand.
Suspicious activity will be immediately reported to the 29 Cantonment Police Beat House and the Anti Narcotics Task Force.
The team will also conduct weekly door-to-door awareness drives on drug harms.
The HPC further flagged that the public toilet in the colony had become a “hotspot for drug consumption” due to a low wall and trespassing from Lum Survey, and requested police to include it in regular patrols.
To strengthen surveillance, the general body also resolved to request local MLA Adelbert Nongrum, the Deputy Commissioner and the Shillong Municipal Board to install CCTV cameras at six vulnerable points under the Safe City Project or Smart City Mission, with monitoring access for HPC.
The committee said it would bear maintenance costs and “not misuse footage.”
On complaints of non-residents allegedly involved in drug peddling, the HPC resolved to submit a formal complaint to the SP, East Khasi Hills and the Officer-in-Charge, Bara Bazar PS, seeking legal verification and action.
