Home ›› 12 Sep 2021 ›› World Biz
Police seized an illegal consignment of around four lakh Bangladeshi oral contraceptive pills at New Ghat in the Dhubri district headquarters on Saturday.
One person has been detained in this connection, reports The Times of India.
The pills, named 'Sukhi', are reportedly smuggled through the international border along with Assam, the police said.
The police added that the smuggled pills are sold in the interior places of the minority-dominated Dhubri district, close to the Bangladesh border, as well as other nearby districts in lower Assam.
Health department sources, however, told Times Of India that 'Sukhi' is also available at some private pharmacies in capital Guwahati.
The police said the consignment was recovered from the residence of one Samsul Haque, who was running the trade with some suppliers from across the border. The detainee has been identified as Mozammil Hussain, a relative of Samsul, for interrogation.
“A huge quantity of pills, which were being supplied to various districts of Assam, have been seized from New Ghat,” Partha Gogoi, Dhubri police station officer-in-charge, told TOI. He added that the illegal sale of the product in the district triggered the police crackdown.
Population control, especially in minority-dominated districts like Dhubri, has reportedly been the top priority of the BJP-led government. However, local pharmacies blamed the government’s "lack of proper birth control measures" behind the growing illegal trade of “Sukhi” for quite some time.
“'Sukhi' is cheap and doesn't pose any threat to women’s health. So, it has become popular in many parts of Assam,” said a pharmacy owner in Dhubri.
Police sources said, one strip of 30 “Sukhi” pills is sold at nearly Rs 10. But a strip of emergency contraceptive pill of an Indian variety costs even over Rs 100.
“Mostly, 'Sukhi' pills are supplied to the riverine areas where migrant Muslims live. They are poor and prefer the cheaper pills,” the police said.
Health experts, however, pointed out that “Sukhi” has gained popularity not only in Assam, but also in the bordering areas in West Bengal, as people harbour the misconception that it is homoeopathic medicine.
“'Sukhi' is extensively used in Bangladesh and people there believed it to be a homoeopathic drug. It became very popular in the neighbouring country and started getting smuggled through the bordering areas in India,” said Padma Shri awardee Dr Ilias Ali, known for his contribution in population control.
Health department sources said “Sukhi” was being manufactured illegally in North Bengal, considering its popularity. “Some consignments of ‘Sukhi’ have reportedly reached Odisha as well,” the source added.
