40 drug peddlers surrender to Rajshahi cops

Forty drug peddlers and a skeleton smuggler surrendered to police at a programme at the frontier village of Char Majhardiar near Rajshahi city yesterday.

They submitted a written statement to Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam and took an oath that they will not return to their previous life if they are given a chance to lead a normal life.

The surrender came following a recent police call made by community police, said Iftekhair Alam, an assistant commissioner of RMP.

The RMP commissioner assured them of rehabilitating them, he added.

Most people of the village, 12km away from the city across the Padma River, the villagers live on agriculture and fishing. Some of the villagers got engaged in drug peddling and smuggling, some of the surrendered people said.

RMP commissioner said those who are yet to surrender have still time to follow suit.

He also said if the surrendered people return to their previous life, tough legal action will be taken against them.