Police Headquarters Tough Stand Spurs Anti-Drug Drive Across Tripura, 206 kg Ganja Seized, Massive Narcotics Destroyed

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, January 29, 2026

Following a firm directive from the Director General of Tripura Police Anurag Dhankar, IPS and a visibly tougher posture adopted by the Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha, intensified anti-narcotics operations have begun at the police station level across several parts of the state. Over the past few days, multiple police jurisdictions have witnessed renewed action against drug trafficking, seizure of narcotic substances, and destruction of illegal ganja plantations.

Large tracts of land in areas such as Simna to Sidhai Mohanpur, Melaghar, Boxanagar, Kamalasagar, Sonamura, and Dhanpur have long been known for extensive ganja cultivation. Local police administrations and ruling party leaders are well aware of these activities. However, ground-level enforcement has often remained subdued due to informal resistance and pressure from local political representatives, resulting in reluctance among field-level police officers to initiate sustained action. It is only when direct instructions are issued from the state police headquarters in Agartala that focused anti-drug operations are occasionally carried out.

Such a directive-led operation was witnessed today when a joint team of Tripura Police achieved a major breakthrough in Melaghar subdivision.

In a coordinated raid, the Special Task Force (STF) of 3rd Battalion TSR, Special Branch, and Melaghar Police Station conducted a search and raid operation at Gamaicherra, Tuibandal area under Melaghar Police Station. The operation was led by Nb/Subedar Munesh Kumar along with personnel from STF, 3rd Bn TSR, and Special Branch, while the Melaghar PS team was headed by SI Partha Pratim Reang. The raid began at 10:30 am and concluded at 1:10 pm on January 28.

During the operation on forest land within Gamaicherra ADC Village, the police recovered seven plastic drums and eighteen plastic bags containing approximately 206 kilograms of unclaimed dry ganja. The seized contraband was subsequently handed over to the Officer-in-Charge of Melaghar Police Station for initiating legal proceedings under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act.

On the same day, Tripura also witnessed one of its largest pre-trial drug disposal exercises. The State Level Drug Disposal Committee carried out the destruction of seized psychotropic substances related to 175 NDPS cases at the Bodhjungnagar Industrial Area. In this drive, 3,759.88 kilograms of ganja, 5,981 bottles of cough syrup, 2,68,362 tablets of various psychotropic drugs, and 231.919 grams of heroin were destroyed.

The disposal process was conducted in the presence of IGP (Law & Order), Tripura, Shri Manchak Ipper, IPS, who chaired the committee, along with other senior officials, ensuring strict adherence to legal procedures and environmental safety norms.

Earlier, on January 21, 2026, the High-Level Drugs Disposal Committee (HLDDC), Tripura, had also destroyed 1,07,548 bottles of EsKuf cough syrup at the Bodhjungnagar Industrial Complex. These were seized in connection with Jirania Railstation GRPS Case No. 104/2025 under sections 21(c) and 29 of the NDPS Act. That disposal too was carried out under stringent supervision to ensure full legal compliance.

The recent spate of seizures and large-scale destruction of narcotics signals a renewed seriousness at the top level of the Tripura Police to combat the drug menace. However, sustained success, police officials believe, will depend on consistent ground-level enforcement without interference and a unified approach involving administration, law enforcement, and community support.

more news...