Jalpaiguri anti-narcotics drive launched after youths flag drug menace to CM
Synopsis
Two young men stopped the Chief Minister's convoy on a public road to report open drug dealing in their colony — and within two days, police were raiding the area. The Jalpaiguri crackdown is a rare instance of direct citizen escalation producing immediate police action, but residents warn that past raids left the trade untouched. Whether this drive sticks is the real test.
Key Takeaways
Jalpaiguri police launched an anti-narcotics operation on Monday night, 4 August 2025 , in the Indira Gandhi Colony area.
The drive was triggered two days after youths Deep Das and Gagan Sakaru directly complained to CM Suvendu Adhikari about drug trafficking.
The youths reportedly stopped the Chief Minister's convoy en route to the Jalpesh temple ; Adhikari shared his WhatsApp number for follow-up.
Narcotics and illicit liquor were seized by personnel of Kotwali Police Station ; no arrest figures were confirmed.
District SP Sujata Kumari Veenapani said sustained anti-drug drives are ongoing across the district.
Residents allege earlier raids failed to result in arrests and the trade resumed each time.
Police in Jalpaiguri, West Bengal, launched a major anti-narcotics operation on Monday night, 4 August 2025, just two days after two local youths directly flagged rampant drug trafficking in their neighbourhood to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The crackdown led to the seizure of narcotics and illicit liquor from the Indira Gandhi Colony area of Jalpaiguri town, according to officials.
How the Complaint Reached the Chief Minister
The two youths — Deep Das and Gagan Sakaru, both residents of Indira Gandhi Colony — reportedly stopped Chief Minister Adhikari's convoy last week as he was travelling from the Jalpaiguri District Magistrate's office to the Jalpesh temple. After listening to their concerns about open drug dealing in their locality, Adhikari reportedly shared his personal mobile number and asked them to reach him via WhatsApp if the problem continued.
The Operation and What Was Seized
Personnel from Kotwali Police Station conducted the raid in the Indira Gandhi Colony market area on Monday night. Officers recovered bottles of alcohol and drugs from the locality, officials confirmed. The colony's market area, particularly areas behind tea stalls and hotels, had long been alleged by residents to be a hub for illegal drug transactions.
What the District Police Said
District Superintendent of Police Sujata Kumari Veenapani said the district police were conducting sustained operations against narcotics-related activities. 'We are continuously carrying out anti-drug drives across the district,' she said. The SP's statement signals an intent to maintain pressure beyond a single-night operation.
A Recurring Problem, Residents Say
Local residents allege that while police have conducted raids in the past, illegal trade in the area resumed shortly after each operation — with no arrests reported in earlier drives. 'Even though police raids were conducted earlier, no one was caught,' residents said, according to reports. Locals have demanded stricter action against establishments allegedly facilitating the trade, along with regular surveillance and sustained crackdowns rather than one-off raids.
What Happens Next
The renewed operation, triggered by a direct citizen complaint to the Chief Minister, has put pressure on district authorities to demonstrate lasting results. Residents are watching whether this crackdown translates into arrests and sustained enforcement — or follows the pattern of earlier drives that failed to disrupt the trade for long.
Point of View
This risks being another optics exercise rather than a genuine disruption of the local drug supply chain.
NationPress
4 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did police launch an anti-narcotics drive in Jalpaiguri?
Jalpaiguri police launched the anti-narcotics drive on 4 August 2025 after two local youths, Deep Das and Gagan Sakaru, directly complained to West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari about rampant drug trafficking in Indira Gandhi Colony. The operation followed within two days of that complaint.
What was seized in the Jalpaiguri drug raid?
Personnel from Kotwali Police Station seized narcotics and bottles of illicit liquor from the Indira Gandhi Colony market area during the Monday night operation. Specific quantities were not officially confirmed in available reports.
How did the youths reach Chief Minister Adhikari?
Deep Das and Gagan Sakaru reportedly stopped CM Adhikari's convoy while he was travelling from the Jalpaiguri District Magistrate's office to the Jalpesh temple. Adhikari heard their concerns and reportedly shared his mobile number for WhatsApp follow-up.
Have police raided this area before?
Yes, according to local residents, police have conducted raids in the Indira Gandhi Colony area previously, but no arrests were made and the illegal trade reportedly resumed each time. Residents are now demanding sustained surveillance and stricter action against establishments allegedly facilitating the drug trade.
Who is the District Superintendent of Police in Jalpaiguri?
District Superintendent of Police Sujata Kumari Veenapani oversees the Jalpaiguri district police. She confirmed that sustained anti-narcotics operations are being conducted across the district.
