Meitei body urges Centre to set up dedicated anti-narcotics bureau in northeast

PTI, IMPHAL, FEB 2 – The Coordinating Committee on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI) has urged the central government to set up a dedicated anti-narcotics bureau in the northeastern region.

The conglomerate of several Imphal valley-based civil society organisations also appealed to the Centre to declare the region as a "narco-terrorist emergency zone."

In a memorandum addressed to the chief ministers of the northeastern states, COCOMI convenor Khuraijam Athouba stated:

"We urge the government of India to officially declare the northeastern region as a narco-terrorist emergency zone to highlight the gravity of the situation and mobilise national resources accordingly."

It also demanded the establishment of a specialised anti-narcotics bureau or force dedicated to combating drug trafficking and narco-terrorism in the region. The bureau should work transparently and coordinate with the state governments and local authorities, COCOMI said in the memorandum.

The organisation also called for a thorough investigation into "alleged complicity of influential individuals and entities in Manipur, Mizoram, and Myanmar’s Chin state in supporting narco-terrorism activities."

It sought measures to destroy infrastructure supporting drug smuggling and illegal arms trafficking as well.