Church, students, village councils, VGs ups war against drugs
Minphong Konyak
Mon, July 11 (MExN): Mon district is witnessing an intensified action against substance abuse, executing what can be viewed as executing the lessons learnt through the International Day Against Drugs and Illicit-Trafficking. It is established that civil societies of Mon district, especially students’ organizations are taking up intensified and severe measures against the scourge. It is reported that the drive is being undertaken by “combined forces” comprising of students, village guards, village councils, the church and the public.
A intensive drive against drugs, especially opium is being undertaken at Tamkoang Village, under Mon district. General Secretary of the Tamkoang Village Students Union, Chihba Konyak informed that a formidable combined force comprising of student organizations, village councils, the Church, village guards and the general public have been organizing raids and checking in and around the areas. It may be mentioned that opium and likened illegal produce flows into Mon district from Myanmar (Burma), the border post of which is literally a stone’s throw away from the final frontier village of Lungwa village, Mon.
Chihba Konyak informed that Myanmar has been a traditional source of the flow of opium and Tamkoang Village is a vital outlet of the illicit substances to other parts of the district. The student leader, however, expressed confidence that from now on the scourge would be checked since people are now convinced of the evils of drugs and opium. He said that if more relentless efforts are implemented to spread awareness and rigorous steps taken to check the flow, things would be different. “An enormous opium highway unknown and (ignored) by the rest of the world would have been curbed” the General Secretary said.
It may be mentioned that after the International Day Against Drugs and Illicit-Trafficking, two main peddlers and three substance-abusers have been apprehended in Tamkoang. The village while asking neighboring villages to lend a hand in the arduous but noble endeavor, has warned of severe consequences if anybody involved in trafficking or abuse is caught.
In a related matter, the Konyak Students Union (KSU) informed that last week, personnel manning the Mon Town Check Post apprehended two persons for trafficking illegal drugs and were later handed over the Konyak Students Union. It was established that the two persons were trafficking drugs from Assam State into Mon District. Later on one of the two were found to be in possession of a certain amount of brown sugar and was immediately taken into the custody of the police. The other person however, was found to be a minor, aged 15 years and was handed over to the Shansham Organization Mon. He is currently being treated at a rehabilitation centre being run by the Shansham Organization.
The Konyak Students Union leaders have expressed enthusiasm that a much needed make-shift rehabilitation centre undertaken by the Shansham Organization which was donated by Nagaland Rural Development Minister, Noke, in 2005 will soon be completed by the end of this year. KSU leaders put the message across that imprisonment and penalty are not the ideal methods to check the scourge of substance abuse and illicit-trafficking. “Jail is not the place for drug-addicts and a rehabilitation centre at Mon will change a lot” a KSU official said.
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