Shillong, Dec 7: Suicide rates and drug abuse among the youths have gone up even as police officers have expressed concern over the rising drug abuse by the youngsters saying that soon it might emerged as the top criminal offence in Shillong if timely intervention is not taken.
Speaking at the youth awareness programme, “ Reaching out to the Youths” as part of the Safe and Secure project of the police, East Khasi hills Superintendent of Police (SP) Thursday told the gathering consisting of youths at St. Edmunds College, “In this year about 43-45 suicide cases have been registered belonging to the age group between 15-35 years”
Kharkhrang informed almost every week the police receive reports of suicide cases and the incident no longer make news as people, especially the youth, have started taking their life lightly.
The programme has been organized in collaboration with the East Khasi hills deputy commissioner’s office to informed and enlightened the youths about drug related matters and the prevailing laws available for dealing with such cases.
Giving a somewhat a bleak picture, Kharkrang lamented that cases relating to the conflict between the youth and the law is increasing every day. He said, “Spreading awareness to the youth in drug-related matters is the need of the hour besides making them aware of the prevailing laws.”
Kharkhrang appealed to the youths to rise up and get around the problem of drug abuse and instead be the torch bearers of their friends and the society at large.
Giving a feel of the drugs scenario and its abuse by the youths additional SP (Crime), Vivek Syiem said, “Expensiveness of drugs has coerced the entire drug addicts in the state to commit crimes like robbery, burglary, extortion and many others just to get money to purchase these drugs”.
Syiem informed that drug abuse has increased rapidly among children, adolescence and with the increase in overdose deaths in the city; it has become a matter of concern of many including the police who considered drug abuse as a ‘disease.
As per the district-wise statistic of drug abuse in the state, it may be pointed out that Jaintia Hills still ranks first as far as the number of drug addicts is concerned with 5398 users pertaining in an age group from adolescence till 35 years. This is followed by East Khasi Hills with 5113 users, 2397 in Ri Bhoi, 1525 in West Khasi Hills, 1500 in East Garo Hills, 1100 in West Garo Hills and 800 in South Garo Hills. There are a total of 17, 833 drug users in the state.
Syiem also said, “Drug abuse in Shillong city is rising with over 1000 of such cases being registered every year and this has given rise to overdose deaths besides making them vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and the vigilant group”.
With the setting up of the District Anti-Narcotic Task Force, a sub-group of the special cell (crime branch) last year, Syiem informed that this special cell handles all the drug-related cases in the state as this cell is equipped with all the facilities to conduct the important procedures on the spot.
Syiem expressed shock to note that fifty percent of the crime being committed is against property and said the shocking part is such crimes are committed by street and abandoned children in commercial areas of the city. Syiem said, “Some of the traffickers use the link system which involved linking thieves, arm dealers to carry out the drug peddling by setting up a nodal centre for stocking heroin and other drugs in Silchar”.
Syiem revealed apart from women who are the primary carrier of drugs, even students and army personnel bring drugs into the state. – By Our Reporter
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