CCPUR, February 10: The Narcotic Control Bureau (NCB) Imphal sub zone today organised an awareness program “drugs and its laws” at Rayburn College auditorium hall, New Lamka.
Principal of the college, rev Khen P Tombing in his opening and welcome speech said the college is honoured to host such an awareness campaign.
Recounting several of his past experience, he said apart from the government, civil organisations and student bodies, churches have to play a crucial role in defusing drug abuse amongst the youth.
During today’s program, intelligence officer, NCB Imphal Samuel Hangzo spoked on ‘effects of drugs’, IO Aram Athur spoke on ‘Narcoti Drugs and Psychotropic Substance(NDPS)Act 1985’ while IO Lalkhogin Bulte presented a paper on ‘drugs and students’.
The speakers also elaborated at length about the danger of drug abuse using power point presentations on the topic.
Speaking about NDPS, Aram said that the act has been sometimes deemed inappropriate as many feel that extensive power have been accorded to the narcotics department under the act.
NCB, Imphal SP, Robinson Gante told this IFP correspondent that the NCB’s effort to curb the drug menace will not be limited to only arresting users and hawkers like in the past, but NCB will extensively focus on organising awareness campaigns in different parts of the state in collaboration with village level organisations and at school levels.
In his vote of thanks, the SP had also said that it was after three international convention on narcotic substances that the government of India had passed the NDPS Act in 1985.
He said in 2013, the imphal sub zone handled 17 cases, while so far this year, there have been three cases- two of heroin case and one of opium case.
Further replying to a query from this IFP correspondent, the SP said that the bureau in collaboration with the Narcotic and Affairs of Border, Manipur Police and the 27 Assam Rifles had during February 4-7 destroyed poppy plantation in 35 hectre of land at Kaihlam Hill Range which is about 25 km from the nearest village which is Phaipheng Village.
The value of the poppy plantation destroyed has been estimated at Rs 20 lakh (approx.), he said.