The number of cases under Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act (SADA) has registered significant decline within the last three years; as informed by the Sarathi NGO, while retaliating to the allegation made by opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) party on the escalation of drug cases.

According to the Advisor to CM & Chief Resource Person of Sarathi NGO – Rohit Raj Maharaj, nearly 158 cases have been registered in 2017. In 2018, 2019 & 2020 – 113 cases, 69 cases & 43 cases respectively have been registered. Meanwhile, in 2021 & 2022 – 40 cases & 51 cases were reported.

Its worthy to note that the SDF Spokesperson – Arun Limboo on October 9 asserted that “Drug issue has increased sharply during these three and half years of SKM government. There have been zero efforts to tackle the drug abuse problem. While, the past SDF government had taken many steps to combat this issue and one initiative was SAATHI which reached out to over 1 lakh students of Sikkim with an awareness drive on drug abuse and mental health. No such step has been taken by the SKM.”