Hundreds rally in Jorhat, demand crackdown on drug abuse

Hundreds of students led by the All Assam Student Union (AASU) and Asom Sena marched through Jorhat on Friday, demanding a complete crackdown on the drug menace and the dismantling of supply networks in the district. The protesters carried placards and shouted slogans for a 'drug-free Jorhat', urging authorities to take stringent action against peddlers and suppliers.

Asom Sena chief convenor Bijoy Shankar Bordoloi alleged that drug peddlers and users had defamed Jorhat, known for its cultural heritage. He said the problem had grown despite multiple complaints to authorities, blaming lax enforcement at some police stations. Bordoloi cited the killing of student leader Animesh Bhuyan near Sadar Police Station, involving youths allegedly under the influence of drugs.

Bordoloi recalled a previous assurance by then DGP GP Singh to make Jorhat drug-free, but claimed drug use had risen in four years. He alleged that a Jorhat MLA had reported police involvement with peddlers in 2025, but no action followed. He called for strengthening the NDPS Act, noting that suppliers often return to the trade after bail, and urged community-based anti-drug committees in every panchayat and ward.