Dimapur: In 2023, Nagaland witnessed a notable crackdown on drug trafficking activities as the Railway Protection force (RPF) of the North East Frontier Railway (NFR) seized narcotics worth Rs 2.5 crore at the Dimapur station.
A data provided by a senior RPF official revealed concerning statistics regarding contraband seizures in Dimapur. This year, 240 grams of brown sugar worth Rs 26.40 lakh was seized by February.
Last year, RPF Post Dimapur confiscated contraband valued at over Rs 2.5 crore in 18 cases, leading to three arrests.
The cases involved possession and transport of Ganja, Illegal transportation of foreign cigarettes, brown sugar, and so on.
In 2022, seizures exceeded Rs 7 crore across 33 cases, resulting in five arrests. The cases involved Ganja, foreign cigarettes, brown sugar and also a lone case of poppy seed smuggling.
It was also revealed that in January and February this year, two minor boys and two minor girls were rescued and handed over to Child line Dimapur. Last year 25 minor boys and 13 minor girls were rescued and handed over to Child line Dimapur.
Senior Divisional Security Commissioner (DSC) of the RPF, Lumding Division, Uday Singh Pawar, held a press conference at the RPF post in Dimapur on Wednesday and shed light on various safety issues plaguing the railway sector.
Discussing passenger safety, the senior railway official emphasised the need to combat theft on trains, especially when passengers are asleep. He highlighted initiatives to raise awareness among passengers through social media and informative videos, stressing the importance of safeguarding personal belongings.
Addressing the issue of stone-pelting incidents, Pawar highlighted the dangers posed to passengers and the public. He mentioned ongoing awareness campaigns and raids to curb such activities, particularly prevalent in the Dimapur-Furkating section. He revealed that 14 people have been arrested in 2023 for stone pelting and in 2024, seven people have been arrested.
Regarding drug trafficking, Pawar highlighted efforts to combat the illegal trade across the Lumding railway division. He urged cooperation from the public and media in sharing information to aid their operations.
Responding to questions, Pawar acknowledged challenges in maintaining continuous operation of baggage detection machines at railway stations. He urged passengers to utilise the railway helpline number 139 for reporting grievances and unauthorised occupancy issues.
On the topic of child trafficking, Pawar emphasised the importance of public involvement and highlighted anti-human trafficking teams at RPF thanas. He encouraged the public to provide inputs and suggestions to address this pressing issue.
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In terms of women’s safety, Pawar discussed the “Meri Saheli” initiative to assist women traveling alone. He reiterated the significance of using the railway helpline number 139 for reporting grievances.
Regarding emergency response times, Pawar noted variations depending on the location of incidents. He assured the RPF’s commitment to prompt action in ensuring passenger safety.
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