In a bid to send a strong message that his government has zero tolerance against drugs, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took part in four events on both Saturday and Sunday in which illegal drugs worth Rs 163 crore was burnt.
The chief minister dubbed illegal drugs "an epidemic" and said these affects youngsters and destroy families. He called for strict measures to end drug menace, reports Hindustan Times.
The events to destroy illegal drugs were held Diphu, Golaghat, Barhampur and Hajoi. The drugs burnt include cannabis, opium, heroin, and other psychotropic substances.
The chief minister said when the BJP government in the state came to power, it was decided that they will strive to rid the state of illegal drugs. "Our first effort was to stop the supply of drugs to our state, second was to end its circulation and third was to rehabilitate those affected by its abuse," the chief minister was quoted as saying.
"As the chief minister of the state and with full sense of responsibility, I want to say that we have zero tolerance towards cow smuggling, drug trade, human trafficking, crime against women and children, and all crimes will be dealt with heavily and firmly irrespective of religion and caste," Sarma had recently said.
Last month, the chief minister had asked the police to complete the probe and file chargesheets in all pending rape, murder, drugs, extortion, and arms cases across the state within the next six months.
—With PTI inputs
