Narcotics, it seems, are playing its role in the Punjab elections yet again with Punjab witnessing the maximum seizure of drugs worth Rs1.78 crore, including heroine and poppy husk.
Till date, total 979.5 kgs of poppy husk and 500 grams of opium have been recovered by the various inspecting teams, including the flying squads, static surveillance teams, and police teams.
The figures, indicating at the rampant use of drugs in Punjab, came just about 10 days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed the Election Commission of India and Punjab Election Officer to ensure non-supply of drugs during the polling process.
Already the poll panel has revealed that curbing use of drugs and other illegal inducements in Punjab, ill-famed as drug haven, would be its biggest challenge this election.
“We are keeping an extra special check during elections, and we are making huge recoveries also…we are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that use of drugs would be negligible,” the state additional director general of police VK Bhawra told The Pioneer. He was appointed Nodal Officer for 2017 elections.
He informed that total recovery, including cash, liquor, drugs etc, is worth Rs23.58 crore till date.
“The Flying Squads has registered 23 FIRs, and recovered Rs1.92 lakh cash, 212 liters illicit liquor, 815 liters licit liquor, 500 grams opium with the total cost running into Rs2.85 lakh,” he said.
The Static Surveillance Teams has lodged 54 FIRs recovering Rs4.31 crore cash, 21.5 kgs poppy husk, 1,191 liters illicit liquor, 1,435 liters licit liquor, worth Rs23.63 lakh, while the police teams registered 410 FIRs, recovering Rs68.24 lakh cash, 1.60 quintal gold worth Rs21 crore, rest drugs and liquor, including 958 kg poppy husk with total value running into Rs23.22 crore.
Bhawra said composite teams of 451 Flying Squads and 504 Static Surveillance Teams are functional throughout the State. Besides, the Election Commission has appointed surveillance and expenditure monitoring teams.
The State has also witnessed the suspicious cash seizures of Rs8.17 crore.
He added a major recovery of raw gold worth
Rs22 crore was made on Tuesday by the Mohali Police during naka checking which weighs 1.60 quintal. Besides, Rs three crore cash was also recovered in Mohali district from some persons, he added.