Tripura reports 2,979 NDPS charge sheets but only 99 convictions in three years, raising concerns over low conviction rates, alleged nexus, and enforcement gaps as the government strengthens anti-narcotics operations and fresh trials under High Court directives.
Tripura has witnessed an aggressive crackdown on drug-related crimes over the past three years, but a sharp disparity between the number of charge sheets filed and convictions secured has raised serious concerns over the effectiveness of the justice delivery system. Chief Minister Manik Saha on Monday informed the state assembly that police filed charge sheets against 2,979 individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, while only 99 convictions were recorded during the same period.
Responding to a starred question raised by a senior Congress MLA, the Chief Minister also revealed that police had submitted final reports in 14 cases. The data presented in the assembly highlighted a growing gap between enforcement efforts and successful prosecution outcomes.
Breaking down the yearly figures, Dr. Saha stated that in 2023, trials in 219 cases were completed, resulting in just 16 convictions. In 2024, the number of trials rose significantly to 525, but only 23 convictions were secured. In 2025, 375 cases concluded, leading to 60 convictions — showing an improvement but still reflecting a relatively low success rate compared to the number of cases pursued.
The issue of low conviction rates sparked sharp criticism from the opposition. A Congress MLA alleged the existence of an “unholy nexus” involving certain police personnel, narcotic smugglers, and government advocates. According to the MLA, this alleged collusion has allowed many accused individuals to escape conviction despite being charge-sheeted.
The legislator urged the Chief Minister to initiate thorough investigations into allegations of corruption among law enforcement officials. He claimed that some officers were amassing disproportionate wealth by facilitating the movement of narcotics and shielding offenders from legal consequences.
Further intensifying the debate, the Congress MLA argued that most of those arrested were merely small-time peddlers or carriers, while the main kingpins behind the drug trade continued to evade arrest. This, he said, indicated a systemic failure in targeting the higher echelons of drug trafficking networks.
In response, Chief Minister Manik Saha rejected the allegations and defended the state’s enforcement strategy. He asserted that the conviction rate, though currently low, has been steadily improving over the years. He also emphasized that law enforcement agencies have intensified operations targeting major drug traffickers.
Highlighting recent efforts, the Chief Minister stated that Tripura Police launched special operations outside the state to apprehend key figures involved in drug trafficking. These operations reportedly targeted drug lords based in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, leading to several significant arrests.
To further strengthen enforcement, the state government has constituted a special anti-narcotic task force led by a senior police officer. According to Dr. Saha, personnel assigned to this unit have undergone specialized training programs outside the state, equipping them with advanced skills to handle complex narcotics cases more effectively.
In a significant development, the Chief Minister also informed the assembly that the Tripura High Court had ordered fresh trials in 23 NDPS cases following appeals by the state government. Of these, two cases were reopened in 2024, while 21 cases were directed for retrial in 2025 by special NDPS courts.
Meanwhile, concerns were also raised regarding drug smuggling through railway routes. The Congress MLA called for the introduction of advanced scanning systems to detect narcotics consignments, citing a recent large-scale seizure of Phensedyl in Jirania as evidence of vulnerabilities in the existing system.
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As Tripura intensifies its fight against narcotics, the data underscores a critical challenge — ensuring that increased enforcement translates into higher conviction rates. The coming months will be crucial in determining whether strengthened policing, judicial interventions, and technological upgrades can bridge this gap and deliver more effective outcomes in the state’s war against drugs.
