Assam could have become another Udta Punjab: Himanta Biswa Sarma

In reply to a question asked by Asom Gana Parishad MLA Prodip Hazarika during the ongoing budget session of the Assam assembly, the Assam Chief Minister on Wednesday said that, like ‘Udta Pujab’, Assam was also on its way to become ‘Udta Assam’.

“We had seen a movie ‘Udta Punjab’, where we had seen the situation in Punjab due to the menace of illicit drugs. Assam was also going towards becoming ‘Udta Assam’. But what Assam police is doing and continuing the war against illegal drugs, we feel that we have been able to rescue many youths, families of the state from it,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

“Earlier Assam was a transit route for illicit drugs originating from other parts of the North Eastern region and neighbouring countries to the rest of India. But the situation has changed and use of illicit drugs has been increasing in Assam and many youths of the state have fallen victim. Police operations against drugs were continued earlier also. But we have launched a war against drugs,” the Assam Chief Minister said.

Sharing the data of last two months when the new government in Assam assumed in the office, Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “During our short period of tenure, we have seized almost 28 kg of heroin, 12823 kg of ganja, 41 kg of opium, 78000 bottles of cough syrup, 13.63 lakh tablets, 3 kg of morphine, 3 kg of crystalline drugs, 33 kg of poppy straw, Rs 1.80 crore in cash.”

He further said that Assam police had seized 10 kg of heroin in 2016, 5 kg in 2017, 7 kg in 2018, 23 kg in 2019, and 27 kg in 2020 and this shows the availability of drugs increasing in the state.

“We have now adopted zero-tolerance against illicit drugs and massive operations are going on across the state,” Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

He also said that the seized drugs would be publicly burnt on July 17 and July 18 at Golaghat, Diphu, Nagaon and Hojai to send a message of zero-tolerance against drugs.