Assam CM Vows Tougher Crackdown on Drug Menace

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said his government would continue to intensify its crackdown on the growing drug menace and take stricter measures to curb trafficking across the state.

Replying to a call attention motion on a drug-free Assam in the state Assembly, Sarma defended the police's tough action against drug traffickers.

"When police are sometimes forced to take strict measures against traffickers, including opening fire in retaliation, some members of the Assembly express reservations and criticise the police," he said.

He added that such criticism adversely affects police morale, as officers resort to such action only when they have no other option. Regretting that some legislators had earlier claimed the drug menace was confined to "minority" areas, Sarma said, "I think it is affecting the majority population as well."

Pointing out that investigations often trace drug trafficking routes to Myanmar, the chief minister said Assam was coordinating with Mizoram and Manipur, both of which share borders with Myanmar, to curb cross-border smuggling.

Sarma said the government was also focusing on the rehabilitation of those arrested in drug-related cases and people rescued from addiction. He expressed confidence that controlling the drug menace would also help reduce petty crimes such as chain snatching and other related social problems.

Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika informed the House that 14,823 cases were registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and other laws between 2021 and 2025. During the period, authorities seized 696 kg of heroin and other narcotics.

He said 4,175 people were arrested in drug-related cases in 2021, while the number rose to 4,901 in 2025.

Highlighting the difference from the previous Congress government, Hazarika said that between 2011 and 2015, the number of cases and seizures was significantly lower. In 2011, 195 cases were registered, 217 people were arrested, and 1 kg of heroin was seized. In 2015, 206 cases were registered, 328 people were arrested, and 1 kg of heroin was recovered.

Hazarika also said the Drugs Free Assam app, launched in 2021 to enable anonymous reporting, has received 585 complaints so far. Based on these inputs, drugs worth nearly Rs 3 crore have been seized and 30 people arrested in 16 cases.

Congress MLA Jakir Hussain Sikdar said narcotics were affecting all sections of society and called for stricter and better-coordinated action. While acknowledging the efforts of the state police, he alleged that the force had not been able to completely dismantle the drug trade and claimed there had been instances of police personnel releasing traffickers after accepting bribes.

AIUDF MLA Badruddin Ajmal said the menace was widespread in Muslim-majority areas and urged the government to take the toughest possible action against traffickers. He also advocated capital punishment for those convicted of drug trafficking.