Curbing Cannabis Plantation Ensures Peace

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Cooch Behar, erstwhile princely state, was incorporated with Indian union and become a district of West Bengal in 1950. King’s palace (Rajbari) which is the icon of Cooch Behar resembles with the Buckingham palace and influenced by Italian architecture. The palace was set up by Maharaja Nripendra Narayan during the15 th century. Koch dynasty was established by Visamviswa during 915 AD. Besides Nripendra Narayan, Jitendra Narayan and Jagaddipendra were important among Koch kings who were famous for initiating various welfare steps and reforming judicial system.

Forgetting its glorious past, a section of people in Cooch Behar was inclined to grow cannabis (ganja) plant with the insistence of some crooked persons that tarnished the image of the district and made it infamous. However, Cooch Behar Police last year tracked down the narcotic gang, arrested culprits and seized 2500 Kgs cannabis worth more than one crore rupees. District Police in a joint operation with CID conducted an aerial survey with DRONE and identified the places where cannabis plants were grown. Cannabis plants were then set on fire. Poppy cultivation had also been totally curbed down due to surveillance. In a major break through, narcotic substances like opium and cough syrup were also seized in huge quantities and destroyed at bio –plant under supervision of Drug Disposal Committee, in formed Superintendent of Police Anoop Jaiswal.

The district has 550 K.M inter-state and international borders with Assam, Bhutan and Bangladesh. Although, noincident of infiltration or insurgent activities of Kamtapur Liberation Organisation, (KLO) National Democratic Front of Bodo land (NDFB), Rava Party is reported during recent years still police is quite vigilant and keeps regular monitoring in coordination with Border Security Force (BSF), Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and CRPF. There are several check posts for intercepting vehicles and Naka operation. Surveillance has been intensified during night through cycle and foot patrolling. Highway patrol vans patrol on NH 31 and State Highways 12 A and 16. Police personnel record footages with body cameras and those are sent to SP. Superior officers including SP go on surprise visits at different places to check whether on duty personnel are on alert. Intelligence collection has been improved following regular interaction among personnel of all 13 Police Stations, two Women Police Stations – one at Sadar and another at Dinhata, Village Police, Civic Volunteers and superior officers through WhatsApp group. Civic Volunteers of 128 anchals and village police immediately inform Anchal Officer in case of arrival of any stranger in any village and suspicious movement of any person. Prior information infact helps to tackle and prevent any untoward incident before it happens. Anchal officers also hold weekly meeting with their respective team of Village Police and Civic Volunteers.

Separate traffic unit has been set up in six police stations and the unit functions under supervision of OC (Traffic). Thirty Constables and 1200 civic volunteers are deputed for various operation of traffic unit. The district police has already identified important crossings and vulnerable areas for installing 110 CCTV cameras which will put in operation very soon. Number of road accidents has significantly come down following installation of guardrails, illuminated road stud, speed breaker and street lighting, said the Superintendent of Police. The district police arrange in service training for SI and ASIs. Indoor and outdoor training and fire fighting training has also been organized for capacity building of Civic Volunteers.

‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ is now not mere a popular slogan but it has become a very successful awareness campaign which involves all stake holders including students, NGOs and local clubs. A tableau on ‘Safe Drive, Save Life’ campaign moved round on the road during the Republic Day parade. Blood donation camps were also organized in different police stations and at the district headquarters and 813 units were collected during this summer. Cooch Behar Sports 2017 and Khel Diwas were organised this year where nearly 500 clubs and 10000 participants took part in various events like Football, Volleyball, Kabaddi, Karate, etc. There were junior and sub junior groups. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee awarded ten toppers in a gala concluding ceremony.

Abhijit Chatterjee