Agartala, Jan 14: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha has raised concerns about a parallel economy driven by drugs smuggled from Myanmar through Assam and widespread ganja (marijuana) cultivation in the northeastern state.

Speaking during the Winter Session of the Tripura Assembly, Saha said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah has instructed states to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against drug peddling and related activities.

Over the past three years, 1,665 cases were registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, leading to the arrest of 2,697 individuals involved in drug-related offenses. Law enforcement agencies, including the Tripura Police, have also seized narcotics worth ₹1,587.47 crore and destroyed extensive marijuana plantations.

Highlighting the social impact of the drug menace, Saha revealed that the number of HIV/AIDS-affected individuals in Tripura increased from 7,707 in 2021 to 10,126 in 2023. “Since 2015, at least 512 people have died due to HIV/AIDS,” he informed the House.

To combat these issues, the state government has mobilized ten departments—including Home, Education, Health and Family Welfare, and Sports and Youth Affairs—for statewide awareness campaigns.

However, opposition leaders, including Leader of the Opposition Jitendra Chowdhury and Congress legislators Sudip Roy Barman and Gopal Roy, accused the BJP-led government of exacerbating drug smuggling and illegal trade during its tenure, endangering the future of younger generations.

Read: Age old tradition burning Mejis in Magh Bihu: A Cultural and Historical Perspective

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