Govt urged to broaden EAGLE scope to tackle drugs and illicit liquor

Leaders of the Jana Chaitanya Vedika, including State president Vallam Reddy Lakshmana Reddy and former minister Dokka Manikya Varaprasad, have called for the expansion of the Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement (EAGLE) initiative. They urged the Andhra Pradesh government to enhance the scope of EAGLE to address the pressing issues of drugs, cannabis, and illicit liquor comprehensively.
During a meeting held in Guntur on Saturday, attended by Avagahana organisation secretary Konda Shivaram Reddy, Humanity secretary K Satish, Nestham founder Jaleel Ahmed, co-founder T. Dhanunjaya Reddy, and COVID Fighters president Alla Bakshu, the participants emphasised the need for stronger measures to combat these issues. Former minister Dokka Manikya Varaprasad highlighted the devastating impact of illicit liquor production in tribal areas, stating that many men succumb to addiction, leaving families in distress. He urged the government to crack down on illicit liquor production and provide alternative livelihoods for affected communities.
Lakshmana Reddy expressed concern over the production of adulterated liquor containing harmful chemicals such as Diazepam and Chloral Hydrate. He criticised the government’s excise policies for allowing illegal belt shops to flourish in villages and called for immediate corrective action.
The leaders noted that despite licensed liquor shops paying an annual fee of Rs 85 lakh, many are forced to operate illegal belt shops due to excise policy shortcomings. They also highlighted issues such as overpricing beyond the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) and corrupt practices involving local legislators and police.
They stressed the importance of ensuring that EAGLE, which operates with a dedicated 450-member police force under IG-level supervision, remains free from political interference. They reiterated the need to promote the 24/7 toll-free helpline for reporting drug-related activities, ensuring stringent action against offenders to safeguard public health and welfare.