With the news of Aryan Khan in jail after a drug bust getting maximum coverage in media, another news related to drugs and jail got quietly buried. In a town called Nagaon in Assam, 88 undertrials in two jails tested HIV positive recently. Authorities suspect the use of common syringe for intravenous drugs as one of the reasons. But how did drugs get inside jails?
According to the Superintendent of Police, Nagaon, Mr. Anand Mishra, the nexus runs very deep, and the modus operandi came to light when they arrested a pharmacist who was delivering drugs to the inmates. In an exclusive conversation with Indian Masterminds, the IPS officer talks about his war against drugs and how the public is helping him in this fight.
ZERO TOLERANCE
When it comes to drugs, SP, Nagaon, IPS Anand Mishra, goes on a no-holds-barred verbal barrage. ‘No mercy’ and ‘zero tolerance’ are words that pop up quite often when he voices his indignation at drug abuse. He says the racket has made such inroads that drugs are being supplied in jail, too. That’s why he has declared an all-out war against drugs and nobody – be it consumers, dealers, facilitators, or transporters – will be spared.
ENCOURAGING PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The officer’s signature style of fighting social ills is by increasing public participation.
“We do not work on a system of informers. We work on the information provided to us by the public. Anybody can just walk in and talk to me whenever they want to. The type of work culture that I have introduced here has percolated down the hierarchy. Now people can approach OCs and ICs and remain assured that their identity will be kept a secret and the information they share will be immediately acted upon.”
He says from Day 1 of his joining, his official and personal phone numbers are public as he wants to be available round the clock for everyone. He thinks people feel happy to be a part of the system that is fighting drugs. “We are working closely with public because the informer business is very dirty. If an informer gives information about one consignment of drugs, he will make sure that 99 others pass through. That is their strategy of stealthily passing other consignments in the shadow of the one that is caught. Hence, I make sure any informer who comes to me ends up in the lockup.”
NO SYMPATHY FOR DRUG USERS
The officer says that he allows absolutely no compromise on work ethics. No person is allowed to interfere in police work when it comes to drugs. At the same time, he says, fighting drug abuse is not the sole responsibility of the police. “It’s the responsibility of the family as well. After all, the first money was given to the addict by them.”
He also says that he has no sympathy for drug users as they made a conscious choice to do drugs. “I personally have no mercy for people who are into drugs. Yes, in the initial stage, a small window is available to the family to correct them. After that, they become recruiters, peddlers and facilitators. And they can no longer be considered victims. They are criminals.”
OUR WORK RAISING AWARENESS
According to the SP, Nagaon Police does not need to launch a formal awareness campaign on drug abuse as their work itself is an awareness drive. “The results that we are giving is causing awareness. When people see that we are fighting against the drug menace, they want to join us in this fight. I get WhatsApp messages from mothers who inform me where her son is going, who he is meeting…”
He also informed that his department has made more than 500 arrests in the last four months, seized more than 50 crores worth of drugs, and had seven encounters with drug suppliers, including 3 deaths.
CHANNELISING YOUNG ENERGY
Mr. Mishra says he would like to co-opt the society to work on the demand aspect of the drugs network. If there is no demand, there will be no supply. “Just saying don’t do drugs is not enough. I am working on providing an attractive platform to the youth to channelise their energy. Let them use their energy in useful pursuits like sports, music, culture, arts, etc., instead of drugs. We organise sports activities, workshops on music, and encourage college and school students to do nukkad plays. Just organising some programme in the department with huge banners, to post on social media won’t do.”
MESSAGE FOR THE YOUTH
The 2011-batch young IPS officer, who is a three-time national champion in karate and sings and plays the guitar too, has a special message for the young crowd. “Life is short. We never know when it will end. So, let us stop abusing our own lives. Life is for living!”
