Cops seek community participation to tackle drug menace in Darjeeling

Amitava Banerjee |MP | 19 SEPTEMBER 2019 | Darjeeling: The Darjeeling Police have decided to involve the community to combat the drug menace that has been plaguing the hills since long. "Police has mainly been addressing the supply chain aspect of this problem. The demand side we have not been able to address. Interference and influence is very less on the demand side by the police. Henceforth we want to address the demand side also and we would like to involve the community for this," said Amarnath K, Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling. 

The Darjeeling Police has decided to constitute a community group within November 1. "The main job of the community group will be to sensitize the public and specially the parents and guardians of the affected that theirs wards should be sent to rehabilitation centers. Drug addiction has a major social stigma. People feel that their status and social standings will be affected if they come out in the open that a family member is affected. Hence they avoid rehabilitation centres. This stigma has to be done away with," added the SP. 

 He stated that drug addiction is more of a disease than a crime. The police will also try to shatter the myth that drug addicts do not get proper opportunity of rehabilitation and drug addicts will be arrested police hence don't want to come out in the open. The Darjeeling Police organized a meeting in Darjeeling with community representatives on Thursday to address the issue of drug addiction. "Section 64A of the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 states that if an addict is volunteering for rehabilitation then the person will be let off without punishment," stated Amarnath. 

The Darjeeling Police has started a helpline for all drug-related issues. "Anything related to drugs can be notified through the helpline 8972921001. The police will take prompt action. Anyone from the community can be associated with the police to combat the menace through the community group," stated the SP. The Narcotics Cell of the Darjeeling Police is already operational checking the supply chain. Many seizures have been made in the past months.