Bhagalpur: After urban areas, the alleged illegal trade in smack, drugs and restricted cough syrups is increasingly being reported in rural parts of Bhagalpur district. Local residents say young people and students are increasingly being exposed to substance abuse, raising concern among families and communities.
Residents allege that drug suppliers are active in remote villages and are secretly supplying narcotic substances to young people. According to locals, what may begin as experimentation, curiosity or peer pressure can gradually turn into addiction.
Drug Addiction Affecting Education and Employment
Local residents claim that drug addiction has affected the education and employment prospects of several young people. There are also concerns that some youths may turn to petty crime to finance their addiction.
Reports of petty theft and disputes in some rural areas have also been linked by locals to the growing drug problem. However, establishing a direct connection between individual criminal incidents and drug abuse would require investigation by the authorities.
The problem is also affecting families financially and emotionally. Parents and community members say greater awareness is needed to identify changes in children’s behaviour and peer groups at an early stage.
Bhagalpur Police Intensify Action
The Bhagalpur Police have intensified action against the alleged illegal drug trade in rural areas. Under the direction of the Senior Superintendent of Police, the district is conducting a special “Healthy Youth, Healthy Bhagalpur” campaign.
Police teams are carrying out raids in remote rural areas and towns based on intelligence inputs. Police officials say several significant actions have been taken against alleged drug networks in recent operations.
546 Grams of Smack Seized
In one major operation, police led by Naugachhia Sub-Divisional Police Officer Sayam Raza reportedly busted an alleged drug network and seized 546 grams of smack, estimated to be worth around ₹70 lakh.
According to the information provided, alleged smugglers were arrested during the operation. Police also reportedly recovered a substantial quantity of intoxicating medicines, cough syrup and a digital weighing machine.
Police have also carried out operations in the Sultanganj and Madhusudanpur police station areas, where several accused were reportedly arrested with smack.
Similar action has been reported from rural areas such as Sajour and Kahalgaon, where police allegedly arrested suspected smugglers and recovered weapons and smack.
Police Focus on Suppliers and Interstate Network
According to police officials, the investigation is not limited to identifying people allegedly selling small packets of drugs. Investigators are also attempting to trace the alleged main suppliers, financiers and interstate links behind the network.
Police have increased patrolling in rural areas and strengthened intelligence gathering to identify drug-related activities and supply routes.
Police Appeal to Residents
Police have appealed to residents to immediately inform the local police about any suspected drug activity or other suspicious movement in their neighbourhoods. Officials have said that the identity of anyone providing information will be kept confidential.
Local residents and parents have also called for awareness programmes in villages alongside enforcement action. They say police, administration, families and communities need to work together to prevent young people from falling into drug addiction.
