The Tsumang Youth Organization, Wokha, on Monday took action on two drug peddlers who were paraded wearing signs around their necks that read “I am a drug seller” after their hair were chopped off.

TYO has informed that the two women were repeated offenders and had been apprehended multiple times by the organization. Several warnings had also been served to them and fines had been imposed too but no change were seen in either, it stated.

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Even last month, the two accused were again caught peddling drugs and the organization decided to hand them over to the police to take proper actions against them. Subsequently, TYO mentioned that it had suggested rehabilitation centres to the two and even shared contacts of NGO’s working towards rehabilitation of drug abusers, but they had not paid heed to the advice.

TYO asserted that it never wanted to exercise such extreme action, but they were left with no option in order set an example for all those indulging in this illegal activity.

The organization also informed that it had requested Lotha Eloe Hoho to join the procession to show that the fight against drugs is the whole community’s fight and not one person’s or group’s fight alone.

The Lotha Eloe Hoho stated that on Sunday evening, its president was informed by TYO about the peddlers who were habitual offenders. The women body said that the youth organization had requested for support from and therefore it called Tsumang Colony Hoho for a meeting at Police Point in Wokha Town and accordingly the even the two women accused of selling drugs also turned up.

The Lotha Eloe Hoho had an inquiry session with both the defaulters and warned them that the women will be on their own if they repeat the offence again in the future.

President, LEH also mentioned that during the procession, they gathered at Tsumang Lake where three young boys were caught carrying drugs. The boys were taken to the Deputy Commissioner of Wokha to whom a representation was submitted. The defaulters were then handed over to the police.

Following the event, people and groups have been questioning the actions of the two organizations and in reply, the Tsumang Youth Organization humbly requested any organization, institutions or any human rights activists to kindly approach its office so that any clarification required could be given by them personally.