A mass protest rally was held on Tuesday demanding stringent actions against the drug cartel in the district which allegedly killed an addict on Sunday.
The rally, oranised by Golaghat Media Forum, was joined by representatives of various students, social and women organizations.
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While addressing a gathering, Superintendent of Police of Golaghat, Pushpraj Singh, appealed to the protestors to extend their full help and cooperation to the police so that he can wipe out the drug cartel.
He also urged the parents to keep a vigil on their wards so that they don’t fall into the trap of drug peddlers.
A memorandum was also sent to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to amend the existing anti-drug laws with provision for severe punishments.
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“A number of pharmacies are mushrooming in the district but it is very unfortunate that till date not a single drugs inspector has been appointed by the government to regulate these pharmacies. Therefore we demand that the government take an appropriate step in this regard,” said Dwipen Dutta, president of Golaghat Media Forum.
It is to be noted that police are keeping a close tab on some pharmacies which they believe are instrumental in supplying drug to youths
On Sunday, a twenty-five-year-old youth lost his life due to drug abuse at Golaghat.
Sanjeeb Goswami, the deceased, was a resident of Chandmari area of Golaghat town.
According to family sources, Sanjib, who completed his higher education from Pune, became a drug addict and was under treatment at Guwahati for the last three months.
“After getting him cured, I brought him back home on Saturday only. My son mortgaged his mobile phone to one Jojo alias Mrinal Gogoi from whom he used to get drugs and on that day, he went to Jojo’s residence for bringing back the mobile. But I saw my son being taken in a rickshaw by the elder brother of Jojo in an unconscious state and I intercepted the rickshaw and took my son to the civil hospital where he was declared dead by the doctors,” said Runu Goswami, mother of the deceased.
“I have lodged an FIR against Jojo alias Mrinal Gogoi, Akoni Gogoi and Bharati Gogoi for murdering my son and I have urged the police and the district administration to take stringent action against the drug cartel flourishing in Golaghat so that my son becomes the last victim of this menace and no mother will have to bear the loss of their children in future,” said Goswami.
Meanwhile based on the FIR, the Golaghat police have registered a case (Golaghat PS Case No 617/19) under section 304 (punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of Indian penal code and have so far arrested 30-year-old Akoni Gogoi and 24-year-old Bharati Gogoi and they have been sent to judicial custody.
“We have previously arrested Jojo alias Mrinal Gogoi for two times under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act but he is presently out on bail. After this incident, he has been absconding. But a manhunt is on to nab him,” said Dipak Bora, officer-in-charge of Golaghat police station.
“A special drive against drug is already underway and in the last three months, we have seized 91 kg of ganja and 50 grams of heroin. In this period, nine drug peddlers have been arrested and have identified 21 drug addicted youths, who have been handed over to their parents after explaining them about the ill effects of drug abuse,” Bora said.
Moreover, taking a reformative approach, the Golaghat police with the help of media and various NGOs are going to launch a number drug abuse awareness programmes in the district.