MDUC to take legal action against atrocities on drug users

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 18, 2019

SHILLONG: The conglomerate of drug users associations under the banner of the Meghalaya Drug Users Coalition (MDUC) has threatened to take legal action against atrocities on drug users in the state. 

This came as a strong reaction against the assault on a drug user  by men in uniforms following a video clipping on the incident went viral in social media on June 7. 

Speaking to reporters here on Tuesday, general secretary of the DUUM and member of the coalition Barry L Kharmlaki said the coalition has also taken strong cognizance of another incident at Polo, where a village elder was seen thrashing the drug addicts, the same of which also went viral on social media. 

“If these kinds of atrocities against drug users persist, we will take legal course action because even the drug users also have constitutional rights,” he said while informing that the coalition aims at looking into all round welfare of drug users in the state. 

Stating that public shaming and thrashing of drug users are happening now in Shillong, Kharmalki said this is not right and we will not remain silent on such issues. 

Informing that there are over 3000 registered drug addicts in Meghalaya, he however said but all of them are not thieves and criminals as alleged by most of the people and the society. 

“It is not fair to generalise all the drug users as thieves and criminals just because of one or two rotten potatoes. Drug problem is not a spectator sport,” he added. 

Stating that drug problem can only be combat by love, care and by working together, and not by force he asked “How many times can you defame and beat a person. We have come across female drug users below the age of 14 years and does it mean we will defame and thrash them all.”