India, July 7 -- Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday said that his government has taken action against the drug menace and assured more stringent measures.

"....when police sometimes are forced to take strict measures against traffickers, including shooting at them in retaliation, some members of the assembly express reservations," he said during a call attention motion in the state assembly on "drug-free Assam". He added that criticism affects the police morale as they resort to such action only when they have no other option.

He said some lawmakers have said that the menace is rampant in "minority" areas. "I think it is affecting the majority population as well," said Sarma. He said police often find that the trail of ...