Around 200 police personnel and participants attended the Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan awareness programme organised by Mokokchung Police at New Reserve, Mokokchung on June 19. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Mokokchung | June 19
Around a quarter of Nagaland’s police force, approximately 5,000 of its over 20,000 personnel, are estimated to be struggling with alcohol or drug addiction, a senior officer said on Friday, stating the figure as “very serious.”
Senior Superintendent of Police, Mokokchung, Vesupra Kezo (NPS) made the disclosure while addressing a Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (Drug-Free India Campaign) awareness programme at New Reserve, Mokokchung on June 19.
“If we have 5,000 addicts in our department, it will affect our efficiency and capabilities. They will not be able to contribute; rather, they will become a liability to the department,” Kezo said.
The Sr SP cautioned that substance abuse directly undermined the operational readiness of the force, stressing that addicted personnel would fail to serve effectively.
He noted that the drug menace and alcoholism were “very prevalent” in both society and the police department. “This is a very important campaign because drug menace and alcoholism are very prevalent in our society, and especially in our police department,” he said.
Emphasising the importance of prevention, Kezo said early intervention is crucial in addressing substance abuse. He maintained that while enforcement against drug-related activities continues, equal importance must be given to awareness, wellness initiatives, treatment and rehabilitation.
He said Nagaland Police, under the leadership of the Director General of Police, has been actively carrying out its fight against drugs through seizures, arrests and enforcement measures across districts. However, he asserted that policing alone cannot eradicate the problem.
“We have to work together with all stakeholders. The administration, Social Welfare Department, churches, civil society organisations and rehabilitation centres all have an important role to play,” Kezo said.
He further stressed the need to remove stigma and encourage recovery, adding that rehabilitation and treatment must go hand-in-hand with enforcement measures.
Calling upon everyone to join the campaign, the Sr SP said the goal should be to make not only society but also the police department free from the menace of drugs and alcoholism.
During the programme, Dr Madhavi R, IAS (P), Assistant Commissioner, Mokokchung, speaking on behalf of the district administration, highlighted that Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan 2.0 is an upgraded initiative focused on creating a safer, healthier and drug-free society.
She said the campaign is based on four pillars — awareness, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation — and added that substance abuse affects not only individuals but families, communities and future generations.
“As implementing agencies, we cannot preach something that we do not follow ourselves,” she said, while stressing that building a drug-free society requires participation from every citizen.
The resource person, Kilang Imsong, Director of Life Anew Foundation, shared his experience in the field of addiction recovery and rehabilitation. He explained that addiction should be understood as a disease that requires treatment, support and continuous recovery efforts.
UBI Imlichila, OC Women Police Station, chaired the programme. The invocation was delivered by Pastor L. Temsu of Police Baptist Church, followed by a special song from Havildar Lanuwapang and a presentation by Ajung, Youth Director, PBC Mokokchung.
The second session featured awareness talks on the NDPS Act, 1985, by SDPO Aekant Jain, IPS, and on Government Employee Conduct Rules by Additional SP Y Tumchobemo Yanthan, NPS.
