The anti-drug squad of West Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh and the Assam Police were given a standing ovation by several civil societies and NGOs for busting a major inter-state drug racket recently.

A large number of women, led by the Aalo Town Peoples’ Welfare and Development Society and Mothers’ Vision gathered on Friday at the Nehru Chowk in Aalo and extended their appreciation to the police personnel for cracking down on drug peddlers.

People from several sectors and colonies also came out of their houses and clapped for the policemen, who were also felicitated by the societies on the day.

Hailing the drug seizure and the consecutive arrests as a major breakthrough, Mothers’ Vision chairperson Jumde Gamlin said, “The NGO, which has been constantly waging the war on the drug menace in the district, is always ready to work hand in hand with the police for such noble ventures.”

The anti-drug squad of the West Siang police along with their Assam counterparts had in the month of September seized heroin worth Rs 25 lakh.

They also arrested several drug peddlers from Aalo, the district headquarters, Rottung in Siang district and Jonai in Assam.

Damien Lepcha is Northeast Now Correspondent in Arunachal Pradesh. He can be reached at: lepcharaul@gmail.com