DIBRUGARH: Once, areas in Dibrugarh like Panchali, Loharpatty, Paltanbazar, Chandmari and Grahambazar, had earned the notoriety of drug peddling and for drug business being run by a section of drug cartel. The police record has also corroborated the claim. But with the passage of time,
drug peddling has become one of the most lucrative businesses among a section of Assamese youths. As a consequence, drug operational areas have gradually expanded to some other parts that have been basically dominated by the Assamese people.
Recent, busting of drug rackets at Sunderpur area in Milannagarh by Dibrugarh Police and subsequent arrest of one Tushar Jeet Gogoi along with recovery of Rs 10 lakh worth heroin and cash of Rs. 72,000 from his possession, proved that drug peddling is not confined among some drug history-sheeter only. This development might be a very calculative move of veteran drug lords like Elahi Sheikh and his gang to give an impression that drug business is not only confined amongst certain people living in some specific areas. Second, it might be a ploy to enhance the number of drug abusers among the affluent group of the society.
The police action, based on specific inputs, led to arrest of one Yunus Khan on August 22 from Loharpatty area. Police recovered Rs 30 lakh worth heroin from his possession. The arrest has opened up a new direction for police related to drug peddling in the region following inputs gathered during interrogation of arrested drug peddlers.
Outgoing Superintendent of Police, Sreejit T and OC, Dibrugarh, Rajiv Saikia had jumped into action and raided the residence of Tushar Jyoti Gogoi at Sunderpur in Milannagar area and seized heroin worth more than Rs 10 lakh and cash Rs 72,000 from Gogoi's possession. The next day, police arrested another drug dealer, Bhupen Talukdar, a resident of Muncotta Khania Gaon, from the Running Gate area. Police recovered 20 gm heroin, cash Rs 15,000 and a substantial number of psychotropic tablets from his possession According to police, the value of 20 gm heroin in the international market is Rs 2 lakh.