The government has taken a hard line to curb the menace of drugs in the country recently. But, without resorting to legal process, the government has chosen an extrajudicial way to eliminate the so called drug dealers.
Many believe the government has no reason to take extrajudicial way to tackle it as domestic law, the Narcotics Control Act, 1990, is enough to handle the crisis.
The Narcotics Act stipulates minimum punishment of 2-year to maximum 15-year and in severe cases, also death penalty provision, considering the quantity of drugs in possession.
Section 19 of the Narcotics Control Act said if anybody possesses less than 25 grams of heroin, the person may face two to 10 years imprisonment, but if it is more 25 grams, he might get the death penalty.
If less than 10 gram of pethidine, morphine or tetrahydrocannabinol drugs is found in anybody’s possession, the person may face two to 10 years imprisonment, but if it is more 10 grams, he might get death penalty.
Advocate Manzill Murshid said, “There in death penalty provision in the Narcotics Control Act and the government can apply the special acts to curb the menace of drugs and narcotics elements. So, the government must give proper importance in implementing the law.”
Subscribing the same view, Z I Khan Panna, an executive member of Ain o Salish Kendra (a non-government legal aid and human rights organigation) said, “The government must give due importance to control the usage of drugs and narcotics substances and makes an addiction-free society. Drug peddlers have to bring to justice.”