GUWAHATI: The B. Borooah Road overbridge in Guwahati has recently become a notorious hotspot for substance abuse causing issues among residents.
Locals report frequent gatherings of individuals under the overbridge, especially during late evening hours, engaging in substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol. The situation has created an unsafe environment especially near the railway lines for pedestrians who avoid the area after dark.
"The area feels unsafe, particularly at night. We often see groups consuming substances openly, and there’s little action to stop it," said Anita Das, a resident of B.Borooah Road locality talking to GPlus.
Nearby shopkeepers also echoed similar concerns, stating that such activities drive away customers and tarnish the area's reputation. The rise in such illegal activities has also at times led to an uprise in instances of petty thefts and harassment further corncerning the public.
Talking to GPlus, a senior police official said, “It depends how we tackle the problem whenever we encounter such miscreants. If the drugs or subtances they are engaged in, are not of a considerable amount, we generally do not charge them. But if they are involved in peddling or such, we take that as an offence and then charge them.”
Speaking to GPlus, an official from GMC also stated that such individuals are at times taken to nearby rehabilitation centres and homes, but they do not stay or try to flee at times, causing more issues.
Stricter measures and action is the need of the hour to ensure safety of citizens in the area along with enforcement of laws to deter such illegal activities and behaviour,
