New Delhi: To raise awareness on drug abuse and illicit trafficking, the police departments in Assam and Meghalaya have released videos on their social media handles.
The clips were released Sunday in view of the upcoming International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking on 26 June.
ThePrint takes a look at both videos, their production and the singers.
Adaption of John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’
Initiated and produced under the guidance of DGP R. Chandranathan, the Meghalaya Police’s video is an adaptation of singer-songwriter John Lennon’s peace anthem ‘Imagine’ that was released in 1971. Written during the Vietnam War, ‘Imagine’ had then urged people across the world to maintain peace and unity.
On the occasion of #WorldMusicDay & upcoming International Day Against Drug Abuse, and in continuation of our awareness campaign, under the guidance of Shri R. Chandranathan, IPS, DGP, launching a Video Song, by 'The Khaki Vibes'.
Full Video: https://t.co/fCCfInOODV pic.twitter.com/H6qgsokYqz
— Meghalaya Police (@MeghalayaPolice) June 21, 2020
The Meghalaya Police’s song titled ‘Imagine no addiction’ has been performed and sung by its personnel under the name ‘The Khaki Vibes’. The song urges people to stop consumption of drugs and avoid addiction.
The 4:38-minute-long song starts with the line “Imagine no addiction, it’s easy if you try…”, a play on the famous opening lines of the original song.
It continues: “no opium no heroin, I wonder if you all can…imagine no more craving, it isn’t hard to do…”.
The video shows officers displaying placards that read: “no addiction”, “no opium, no heroin” and “say no to drugs & yes to life”.
‘It’s not a trap, not an escape’
The Assam Police’s 3:06-minute-long video has been sung and performed by Zubeen Garg, Angarag Papon Mahanta, Dikshu and Bornali Kalita. Titled ‘It’s not a Trap, not an Escape’, the song is a call to end drug abuse and save lives.
In continuation of @assampolice efforts to raise awareness on Drug Abuse & Trafficking, it gives me immense pleasure to launch a unique song, featuring @paponmusic, @zubeengarg1, @SarmaDikshu and @BornaliKalita.
Full Video: https://t.co/E4eevGhM6r pic.twitter.com/GYvZqDAE5y
— DGP Assam (@DGPAssamPolice) June 21, 2020
“Proliferation of drugs in the Northeast is a fact of life. Assam is a convenient transit point. The state has seen spurt in drug abuse cases over the years, in terms of drugs like meth derivatives, heroin and brown sugar,” DGP Assam Police Bhaskar Jyoti Mahanta told ThePrint.
“Drug peddling from Myanmar also plays a prominent role in proliferation of arms for militant organisations. This is why we have made this video on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking,” he added.
Mahanta said this video is an attempt to raise awareness about drug peddling, consumption and its addiction among the youth of the state. The concept and design of the video is by the DGP himself and the production was done by the state’s police department.
Also read: CRPF personnel in J&K to get training on de-addiction and drug abuse prevention