BJP legislator Sanbor Shullai chairs meeting to combat drug menace, illegal migrants in Shillong Cantonment
A joint meeting chaired by BJP legislator from South Shillong Sanbor Shullai on Wednesday resolved to form a committee involving the traditional dorbar shnong and residents for combatting against the growing drug menace and to check on illegal migrants within the constituency
The meeting was attended by officials of the police department, various stakeholders of Shillong Cantonment Area at Jhalupara community hall.
“We have decided to form a committee involving members from the Dorbar, Village Council, and stakeholders. We will then send and recommend these names to the government. Recently, the government constituted a committee to address this drug menace, and I will recommend names from the Shillong Cantonment area to be co-opted into this government-formed committee,” Shullai told reporters after the meeting.
The joint meeting was necessitated following the arrest of Aisa Khatoon, a notorious drug kingpin and peddler from Lower Paltan Bazar.
“The issue of drugs concerning the Shillong Cantonment area is very serious as most of the time the name of Shillong cantonment is coming in all local media. The arrest of drug peddler Pahari Aisa Khatoon has created hue and cry in Shillong. The police intend to book her under the Prevention of illicit traffic in NDPS Act,” he said.
The meeting also highlighted that recently under the NDPS Amendment Bill, 2021, “Person found guilty of the offence will be punished with rigorous imprisonment of at least 10 years – extendable up to 20 years and fine of at least Rs 1 lakh. It also provided for death penalty in some cases where a person is a repeat offender.”
It said that any house owner who violates shall be booked under section 25 of the NDPS Act punishment for allowing premises etc to be used for commission of an offence.
The meeting also referred to the statement made by home minister of state for home affairs Nityaanda Rai that the ethnic unrest in Manipur has made drug cartels use the Meghalaya route to smuggle heroin and other drugs.
Further the meeting also informed leaseholders and stakeholders that any non-resident, especially those not genuine citizens of the state, must possess all requisite documents, including police verification from their respective states.
The meeting emphasized, “In order to find out whether the migrant workers are genuine or illegal migrants all the lease holders of cantonment area should ensure that any migrant workers coming from other states should possess an epic card of the state and also police verification of their respective state. This is to ensure that they don’t have any criminal background and also to ensure they are not illegal migrants from Bangladesh. Plus it is also to ensure that they follow the norms of the Labour department government of Meghalaya. So all the house owners should submit their tenant details to the Shillong Cantonment Board and a copy of the same should be given to the police station and village heads so as to monitor the movement of migrant workers.”
The intention is to jointly work with all the departments.
In this regard, the meeting resolved to send a proposal to the state government through the office of the Deputy Commissioner to notify one joint committee comprise of all stakeholders of Shillong Cantonment area and also comprising of police department, narcotics branch (anti narcotic task force) and anti-infiltration branch.
Shullai reiterated that leaseholders in Lower Paltan must be aware of their responsibilities, warning, “Failure to comply with these regulations will result in strict legal action.” He also emphasized that property owners found sheltering criminals will be held accountable and face legal consequences.
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