Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha inaugurated a daylong seminar titled ‘Cross Border Organized Crimes (NDPS, Human Trafficking & Terror Funding, etc.) – Impact Assessment and Legal Solutions’ at Tripura Judicial Academy in Agartala on Saturday.
The seminar, organized by Tripura Judicial Academy under the aegis of the High Court of Tripura, witnessed the participation of delegates from Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Sikkim, West Bengal, and Tripura.
During the inaugural session, Chief Justice of the High Court of Tripura, Aparesh Kumar Singh, delivered the welcome speech. Supreme Court Judge Justice Sanjay Karol addressed the issue of narcotics and expressed gratitude to the State Government for launching the ‘Nesha Mukt Tripura Abhiyan,’ engaging stakeholders and particularly the youth. He also shed light on the aspects of organic and synthetic drugs and their harmful effects on individuals.
In his speech, another Supreme Court Judge, Justice Aniruddha Bose, focused on the issue of border security and drug menace. Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, in his ceremonial address, highlighted concerns regarding case filings, FIRs, pendency, investigations, and the filing of final reports.
Justice Arindam Lodh, Judge of the High Court of Tripura, delivered the Vote of Thanks and drew attention to the role of chemical companies in drug manufacturing.
After the inaugural session, technical sessions started. The first technical session revolved around “Offences under NDPS Act – Impact Assessment & Legal Solutions.”
Chief Justice of Sikkim High Court, Justice Bishanath Sommaddar, chaired the session and provided detailed insights into the topic. Judge of Calcutta High Court, Justice Jay Sengupta, co-chaired the session, discussing the development of comprehensive software for storing data on drug-related issues. Zonal Director of the NCB, Guwahati, Sudhansu Kumar Singh, delivered an informative power point presentation on the NDPS situation in the country and its impact on the Northeast and Tripura. District and Sessions Judge, West Bengal, Sudipta Dey, shared his experiences related to the subject matter.
The second session addressed the “Changing Facets of Human Trafficking: Role of Enforcement Agencies in Curbing Its Menace.”
Judge of the Patna High Court, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, chaired the session, covering aspects of human trafficking and organ transplantation for profit. A Judge of Gauhati High Court co-chaired the session and elaborated on human trafficking issues. Chairman of the Commercial Taxes Tribunal, Jharkhand, Manoj Prasad, shared his experiences related to the field, informing the audience about emerging issues in human trafficking and organ transplants involving monetary transactions.
The third and final session engaged speakers in an engrossing discussion on “A Challenge for Bordering States vis-a-vis International Approach for Its Control and Combat.”
Judge of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Dr. Shiva Nand Pathak, chaired the session, and Justice T Amarnath Goud, the Judge of the High Court of Tripura, co-chaired. DGP of Tripura, Amitabha Ranjan, presented comprehensive information on the issue from international, national, and Northeast regions’ perspectives.
Brigadier of the Indian Army, Vikram Guleria, also shed light on drug trading for funding terror, especially insurgency in the Northeastern region. The discussion was further enriched by DIG, BSF, Mathews, and Special Judge NDPS, Manipur, Alek Muivah, who shared unique experiences highlighting terror activities.
The seminar proved to be an insightful platform for sharing knowledge and perspectives on combating cross-border organized crimes, offering potential legal solutions and collaborative approaches among the participating states and stakeholders.