Hill drugs row: Bista for NCB- impartial investigations into the network of drugs trafficking in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region.

SNS, SILIGURI, 23 JUNE: At a time when BJP's Alipurduar M P John Barla has been demanding a separate state or Union Territory "for national security" for North Bengal areas, including the sensitive "chicken neck" region, Darjeeling's MP Raju Bista has sought the intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and informed him of the region, which, he said is increasingly being used by drug traffickers and arms smugglers.

Mr Bista said he has urged Mr Shah to have the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to conduct thorough and impartial investigations into the network of drugs trafficking in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region.

"I have personally reached out to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, bringing to their attention the ongoing agitation by the people of Mirik sub-division under Darjeeling district in my constituency, who are demanding the arrest of drugs trafficking kingpins," Mr Bista said, adding, "I have informed them that Darjeeling Lok Sabha constituency sits at the heart of the highly sensitive and critical "Chicken Neck" region of our nation. This is the only region in India that shares international boundary with four nations--Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Tibet (China). Despite being such a sensitive place, this region is increasingly being used by the drug traffickers and arms smugglers and they are turning it into a hub of trafficking activities."

The Darjeeling MP said he has received multiple representations from people and organisations in the Mirik region, who have alleged that individuals related to politicians and some law enforcement officials are involved in sheltering drug traffickers and are actively engaged in protecting them.

"I have requested the Governor and Union Home Minister for their kind intervention in getting the Narcotics Control Bureau, which is a Central Agency, to conduct a thorough and impartial investigations into the network of drugs trafficking in Darjeeling hills, Terai and Dooars region," Mr Bista added.

On the other hand, Alipurduar MP Mr Barla today said that he wouId meet Governor Dhankhar to inform him of post-election violence that continues in his constituency. Nine members of the Kumargram Gram Panchayat, under the MP, and their family members fled their homes and have taken shelter in the MPs house after the TMC and the police allegedly threatened them and asked them to join the ruling party.

Mr Barla said after the incident last night that it was "for this very reason" that he had demanded a separate North Bengal state.