PASIGHAT: East Siang district police arrested four alleged drug peddlers in Pasighat on August 19 as part of Operation Dawn 2.0, recovering a total of 8.26 grams of suspected heroin, authorities said.
Intelligence-led operation, staged searches
Police said the action was undertaken following credible information about the trafficking of narcotics in the Pasighat area. The operation, carried out within the jurisdiction of Pasighat Police Station, began with the apprehension of Otem Padung from Forest Colony.
Interrogation of Padung, according to the police, led investigators to Okong Megu, who was detained from Gumin Nagar. Megu is alleged to have admitted receiving the narcotics from Ogul Tagi and supplying users. Ogul Tagi was later arrested from Gumin Nagar, while Peeman Manham Taloh was taken into custody from the 2-Mile area of Pasighat.
Seizures documented, procedure followed
Searches and seizures were conducted in the presence of an Executive Magistrate, the police said. Items recovered from the accused included three tobacco containers and two vials containing the suspected heroin, along with paraphernalia described as a brass-metal hookah, a plastic hookah and two syringes. The material was weighed, packed, sealed and documented in accordance with legal provisions, and the operation was video-recorded for transparency, the statement added.
"The district police’s zero-tolerance policy towards drug-related offences remains in force," the Superintendent of Police, East Siang, was reported to have said.
Legal action and custody
A case has been registered at Pasighat Police Station as PSGT/PS/C/No. 88/26 under Sections 21(b), 29 and 27A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The investigation is ongoing.
All four accused were first placed in police custody and, after the expiry of police remand, were produced before the Sessions Court, Pasighat, which sent them to judicial custody, police reported.
District police response and appeal
Superintendent of Police Pankaj Lamba, IPS, commended the Anti-Drugs Squad (ADS) and the police team involved in the operation. The district police reiterated their stance of strict action against drug trafficking and appealed to the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities related to illicit substances.
Local context and implications
The arrests form part of a larger crackdown under Operation Dawn 2.0, a drive being pursued in various parts of the state to curb the supply chain for narcotics. While the quantity recovered in this case is relatively small, authorities emphasised the value of intelligence-led policing in dismantling local distribution networks and identifying supply links.
Police statements suggested that the investigation will seek to determine broader connections, distribution patterns and whether the seized substance links to larger trafficking routes. The registration of offences under multiple sections of the NDPS Act indicates possible charges ranging from possession and distribution to facilitating consumption.
- Date of operation: 19 August 2026
- Place: Pasighat, East Siang district
- Accused: Otem Padung; Okong Megu; Ogul Tagi; Peeman Manham Taloh
- Seized: 8.26 grams of suspected heroin; paraphernalia
- Case registered: PSGT/PS/C/No. 88/26 under NDPS Act sections 21(b), 29 and 27A
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Suspected heroin (vials) | 8.26 grams |
| Tobacco containers | 3 |
| Hookah (brass-metal) | 1 |
| Hookah (plastic) | 1 |
| Syringes | 2 |
Police have urged residents to co-operate with law enforcement by reporting any information on drug peddling or suspicious movements to the nearest police station. Investigating officers did not disclose further details about the supply chain or whether the accused have prior records, saying such information would be revealed as the probe progresses.
The case continues to be investigated by Pasighat Police Station under the supervision of the East Siang district police, and further updates are expected as inquiries progress and evidence is analysed.
