Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha on Tuesday chaired a meeting here at Agartala Pragna Bhawan to review of the law and order situation of the state with the police officers of the state and said that steps are being taken to deal with the illegal infiltration by Rohingyas, illegal drug trade and mafia menace in the state.

“I had a discussion with the police officers and the officers of the Border Security Forces regarding the infiltration by the Rohingyas, who are accessing the state of Tripura to move to the other parts of India,” he said, adding that the barbed wire fencing was destroyed due to river erosion caused by floods and it was also known that some touts involved in bringing Rohingya immigrants to India maintain communication using Bangladeshi SIM cards in the area.

Dr. Saha, who also holds the Home portfolio said, “The matter has been taken seriously and accordingly I had directed the officials of police and BSF to draw an action plan to combat the menace of infiltration by Rohingyas and also drug smuggling.”

On a different note, the Chief Minister told reporters that steps are being taken to deal with the mafia menace in the state with strong hands. He said, “Police will take stern action against those involved in various anti-social activities including extortion, syndicates in the state.”

“Steps are also being taken to modernise the police stations of the state, where police are now using drones and other modern surveillance tools to spot cannabis cultivation fields,” Dr. Saha said, adding that these technological innovations would be used to combat the drug menace and added that special stress was laid on “rooting out mafia” or organised crime syndicates in the state.

Saha admitted the state police are facing a “crisis of manpower” and said the issue would be resolved by taking steps to fill up vacant posts and by providing immediate reinforcements in areas where needed.