Drug peddlers arrested by Lakhimpur police but kingpins is fleeting

North Lakhimpur: The recent arrest of Jayanta Patir and his wife Togor Patir by the Lakhimpur Police in Assam has once again brought to light the alarming drug peddling activities in the district. Police recovered suspected heroin in 76 small containers from the possession of the duo, who had been doing illegal business for a long time.
However, this move against peddlers along with the arrest and recovery of contraband is the extent of police anti-narcotics operations in the district so far. There has been no success in tracking down the masterminds of drug trafficking, who are out of sight of the police.
Drug trafficking has been on the rise in the district for the past five years, with tragic deaths of young drug addicts and sporadic arrests of drug dealers.
In the latest incident on May 1, 2022, Lakhimpur police recovered heroin from the pocket of a uniformed Class III boy at No. 2 Parbatipur, Banderdewa. The boy’s parents, Ramakant Gam (40) and Meena Bori (35), were arrested as drug peddlers.
In another incident, Riju Pegu, wife of drug lord Jitan Biswas, was arrested and a huge amount of sugar and Myanmar currency was recovered from her residence.
Another notable arrest was that of Jitan Biswas himself, who was caught on 10 June 2020 with 180 grams of heroin hidden inside the door panel of his car.
Biswas is a history-setter who has been booked against several drug-related cases at various places in the last ten years.
He has been arrested multiple times in the same crimes, including contraband, ammunition and foreign currency and with the same vehicle.
Despite his repeated arrests, Biswas has always managed to slip through the net of the police. This has created concern among the citizens, who are worried about the failure of the Lakhimpur police to nab the notorious drug kingpin.
The Lakhimpur Police launched armed operations against drug trafficking in late 2021 on the direction of the state government. However, these operations have only resulted in the arrest of vendors. The masterminds and smugglers of this crime are still in the hands of the police.
As seen from the arrests of drug peddlers and police “encounters”, the center of drug trade activity in Lakhimpur district is at No. 2 Parbatipur in Banderdewa on the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border.
Strategically located on the inter-state border as the gateway to Arunachal Pradesh, Bandardeva is a hub for drug trade along with other illegal activities like wildlife trafficking. It is well connected by road and rail.
The Lakhimpur Police must intensify its efforts to nab the kingpin of drug trafficking in the district. The police must also work in coordination with the law enforcement agencies of Arunachal Pradesh to curb inter-state drug trafficking.