AGARTALA, Feb 28 (TIWN) The Opposition Congress in Tripura on Friday demanded the removal of Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Santana Chakma as her bodyguard along with two other security personnel were arrested on Thursday for carrying drugs.

Tripura Pradesh Congress Vice-President Tapas Dey said "it was shocking that a minister''s personal security guard is directly involved in drug menace". "Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has announced to make the state a drug free society... but a large number of police personnel are involved in trading drugs," Dey told the media. 

Constables Dilip Chakma, the minister''s bodyguard, constable Narottam Chakma and Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan Sanjib Chakma were arrested on Thursday in north Tripura for carrying Yaba tablets and other drugs, including heroin.  The arrested security personnel have been charged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act and the Indian Penal Code.  At least 75 policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of police, have been either arrested or suspended from service for their alleged involvement in drug peddling in the past two years. 

A Revenue Department official said that in the past 20 months, 722 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and 1,241 people arrested for trading in and smuggling drugs.  He said that around 78,853 kg of ganja (cannabis), over seven kg heroin and other drugs were seized.  Yaba tablets contain a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine and are misused as high-dosage drugs in India, Bangladesh and neighbouring countries.  According to the BSF and intelligence officials, Yaba tablets and other drugs are smuggled into the northeastern states from neighbouring Myanmar and then smuggled to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and various Indian states.