TEZU, Feb 12: Illegal opium cultivation is a menace to the society, and it must be discouraged at any cost.
This was the opinion of the participants of a coordination meeting convened at the Lohit deputy commissioner’s conference hall here on Monday to find ways and means to combat opium cultivation in the district.
The meeting was attended by SP Isaac Pertin, Narcotics Cell Nodal Officer Oli Koyu, representatives of the Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN), the Cultural and Literary Society of Mishmis (CALSOM), the All Mishmi Women Welfare Society (AMWWS), and the All Mishmi Students’ Union (AMSU), along with senior BJP leader Sotai Kri and administrative officers.
Representatives of the CALSOM, the AMWWS and the AMSU strongly supported the initiatives taken by the district administration against opium cultivation, and said offenders must be booked under the NDPS Act.
Sotai Kri opined that destruction of a few opium growers’ livelihood was nothing compared to the overall wellbeing of the society.
He expressed fear that opium intake would spread all over Arunachal Pradesh, if not stopped in time. He exhorted the participants, especially the students, to support the anti-opium movement.
AMWWS general secretary Shibali Yun said the women’s group has been constantly involved in spreading awareness against opium cultivation. Yun informed that they regularly carry out destruction operations, and requested the CBN to continue its operations throughout the year and not just in particular months.
AMSU president Legem Takaliang requested the DC to take strict action against opium growers, and said that most people grew opium only for easy money. He also called for continued eviction drives and destruction activities.
Deputy Commissioner Karma Leki said the administration will provide full cooperation, in terms of logistics, in the fight against opium, and informed that deliberate transgression of executive orders issued from time to time would be dealt with severely.
