Home Minister Lahkmen Rymbui presented a report card of sorts in the Assembly today on the police department’s activities wherein he revealed that more than 5 tonnes of cannabis has been seized by the authorities over the last five years.
The fight against drugs has come to the fore of late, with police conducting regular seizures and making arrests while efforts are also on to discourage the youth from getting into drugs in the first place.
In total, 5.33 tonnes of cannabis, 14.505kg of heroin, 249kg of methamphetamines and 3,732 bottles of phensedyl cough syrup have been seized in the last five years.
In the past five years, 389 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act have been registered, 656 people arrested and 168 cases chargesheeted.
Meanwhile, the minister informed that, while the state has seen its fair share of protests, these have been mostly peaceful under the current government. That, he said, is because the administration has encouraged the police and district administrations to deal with protestors “tactfully”.
There have still been 209 cases relating to law and order during protests since 2018, with 44 cases being chargesheeted and 215 people arrested.
All in all, there are usually 3,000 police cases registered every year, across the gamut of murder, abductions, crimes against women and children, theft, drugs and those relating to the National Green Tribunal.
2019 saw a high of 3,885 cases and there have been 2,291 in the year to date. Some 8,805 criminals have been arrested in the past five years and 549 convictions secured.
On crime against women and children, Rymbui said that this is an area which requires special attention and immediate remedial measures.
On the Meghalaya Residents Safety and Security Act 2016, he said the state government has taken steps in its implementation, which is mandated to ensure enhanced security vetting of all tenants and the safety and security of the state’s citizens by way of prevention of anti-social elements from gaining shelter in Meghalaya.
He said the implementation of the digitised system would not only ensure the safety and security of the residents but it would also act as a strong intelligence gathering system for authorities to monitor and act, based on the inputs gathered.
In the initial phase, seven localities in East Khasi Hills, namely Nongrim Hills, Pohkseh, Lapalang, Nongmynsong. Nongrah, Wahdienglieng and Riat Laban have been selected for registration.
The minister also informed that 280 CCTV systems have been installed across the state by the police – West Khasi Hills six, Ri-Bhoi District 10, East Jaintia Hills six, West Jaintia Hills six, East Garo Hills three, West Garo Hills 103, South Garo Hills 19 and North Garo Hills 33.
