Shillong, Oct 8: Five Meghalaya Police personnel today joined a pan-India motorcycle rally against drugs, which will cover more than 3,300km.
The rally began from Agartala in Tripura on October 4 and it will end at Ekta Nagar in Gujarat.
Organised under the theme ‘Fight Against Drugs’, the rally brings together police forces, central armed police forces and central police organisations from across the country. The participating teams have been divided into four geographical zones, with Meghalaya Police taking part in the North East zone along with other regional states.
Five riders from Meghalaya Police, five from Mizoram Police and four riders from the Narcotics Control Bureau are participating in the zonal contingent.
The motorcycle teams will also take part in the Ekta Diwas parade on October 31, organised as part of National Unity Day celebrations commemorating the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.
Additional Director General of Police (HQ/A) Anurag Agarwal said the theme of this year’s rally was particularly significant as drug abuse remains a major challenge for the country and future generations.
“Drugs are the biggest challenge for humanity and for the next generation,” Agarwal said.
He said Meghalaya Police has been taking stringent action against drugs, while pointing out that the state largely functions as a transit route rather than an originating point for narcotics.
Agarwal said the transit nature of the drug trade also creates challenges for investigating agencies as the source of the narcotics may lie outside Meghalaya.
He said agencies would need to strengthen their networks and coordination to trace the source of drugs and take action against peddlers both within and outside the state.
Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong, who holds the Home portfolio, flagged off the riders and said the long-distance ride would demonstrate the seriousness of the central and state governments in fighting the drug menace.
“The 3,200-plus kilometres is not a joke, but I am very sure that your riding will definitely demonstrate the seriousness of the government, be it the central government and the state government, and the holistic attempt to fight against drugs,” Tynsong said.
He said he hoped the riders would return with renewed inspiration after taking part in the October 31 programme at Ekta Nagar.
