Meghalaya HC seeks NCB drugs report, reviews deportation of foreigners

The High Court of Meghalaya has asked the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to file a status report on what it is doing about drug trafficking in the state, The Shillong Times reported. In a separate hearing this week, the court took note of the government's progress in deporting foreign nationals who have completed their prison terms.

NCB asked to report on Meghalaya

At Friday's hearing, the division bench of Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice W Diengdoh was told by the Assistant Advocate General that the state government and Meghalaya Police had already filed a report on October 20 on action taken against drug trafficking.

Senior counsel SP Mahanta, appearing for the applicant, referred the court to Operation Trident, a coordinated crackdown launched on October 23 by the NCB, the Enforcement Directorate and police in Mizoram, Assam and Manipur. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said the operation led to 18 arrests, uncovered hawala transactions of nearly Rs 100 crore, froze 1,424 bank accounts and attached properties worth Rs 17.82 crore.

The bench then directed Assistant Solicitor General N Mozika to file a status report for the NCB setting out the steps taken specifically within Meghalaya. The matter will next be heard on December 7.

Deporting foreign convicts

In a suo motu case heard on Thursday, the same bench was told that about 20 foreign nationals, 19 men and one woman, are currently held in the state's detention or holding centre.

Senior Government Advocate AS Dey told the court that six Bangladeshi nationals were deported on September 30, and six more, along with a child, on October 12. One man who has overstayed by nearly two years and 11 months will be deported within a week, he said, as his papers have been processed.

A 14-year-old boy, picked up with his father and now staying in a children's home, has received a travel permit from the Bangladesh Assistant High Commission in Guwahati. Since no criminal case is pending against him, the government plans to hand him over to his mother at the Dawki-Tamabil Integrated Check Post once the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Kolkata issues an exit permit. The FRRO, appearing by video conference, said the document would be processed quickly.

The court also noted the need for standard operating procedures to speed up deportations. The state said it would begin the deportation process before a prisoner's sentence ends, sought time to frame the SOPs, and promised regular meetings with all agencies involved.