From Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI :In Assam, the Himanta Biswa Sarma-led government has completed one month today. In the last 1 month, the new government has taken major action and achieved great success in the fight against coronavirus as well as drugs. Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that the government has resolved to work day and night in the service of the people. He thanked the Assam Police for taking action against drugs that destroyed the new generation. He said there will be a constant war on drugs. According to the Chief Minister, 401 cases with 24 crore have been registered in the 1 month war against drugs, 701 people have been arrested.
Though the health department is handling the covid-19 epidemic situation, the state police have been busy exposing drug cartels, arresting smugglers and forbidden and recovering cash since the new government assumed office. Though the campaign against drugs has been part of regular police operations, the campaign gained momentum last month after the new government under Sarma, which also holds the home portfolio, took charge. Between May 10 and June 7, police have registered 401 cases across Assam and arrested 701 persons in connection with illegal drugs. Over 8.5 kg of heroin, 2 kg of brown sugar, about 6,000 kg of marijuana, more than 270,000 illegal tablets and about Rs 26 lakh cash have been recovered during the period. The Chief Minister said that as per police records, there has been a big jump in the cases of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the state in the last 10 years. In 2010, police registered 1,023 cases last year from 180 cases. “We will continue our operation against drugs. Since many families have been devastated by this, we are taking this action as our responsibility. I am confident that Assam will be able to get rid of this menace if our police act actively, Himanta Biswa Sarma said in Delhi last week. Dealing with the war on drugs and the Covid-19 situation are two major areas of focus of the Government led by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who completed the first month of its office today, June 10.
Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as chief minister on May 10. After assuming office as chief minister, Dr. Sarma said that he will take measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic and also directed the Assam Police Department to take strict action against drugs. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the release of Assistant Ritul Saikia, junior engineer of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), kidnapped by the banned United Liberation Front of Assam-Independent, ULFA (I), within two weeks of the new government taking charge, has been another feature of the last one month.Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took personal interest in the matter and visited the affected family. However, his appeal to ULFA (I) Commander-in-Chief Paresh Baruah received a quick and positive response and Saikia was released along the Indo-Myanmar border. Saikia was abducted along with two other accomplices from a work at ONGC’s rig site in Sivasagar district of Assam on April 21. Though his colleagues were rescued by security forces from Nagaland near the Indo-Myanmar border three days later, the whereabouts of Saikia could not be ascertained in the joint operation. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that in the last one month, the government increased its stake in Nunlgarh Refinery Limited (NRL) from 12.35% to 26% with an investment of Rs 2,187 crore, marking the biggest investment ever made by the state. On completion of his first month, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma urged the minority community to adopt a ‘Civilised Family Planning Policy’ for population control to reduce poverty. The Chief Minister said, “All stakeholders in the community should come forward and support the government in helping reduce poverty in the community which is mainly due to continuous increase in population. “The government is the guardian of all poor people but it needs the support of the minority community in tackling the issue of population growth which is the root cause of poverty, illiteracy and consequent lack of proper family planning. Sarma said her government will work towards educating women in the community so that the problem can be tackled effectively.
