Facing allegations of going slow against drug traffickers, the Punjab Government on Wednesday came out with a “comprehensive” plan to eradicate drug menace from the State.
Announcing a slew of measures to tackle the menace, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal declared that a “free hand” has been given to a special police bureau headed by a senior IPS officer, besides inclusion of a senior doctor, a social scientist, among others, in the state’s “war against drugs”.
Intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court would also be sought for setting up of special fast track court dealing especially with drug cases. In addition, stringent laws would be made including confiscation of drug lord’s property.
The development is significant as drug menace was an issue used by the rival political parties in an attempt to corner the ruling SAD-BJP combine. In fact, the separate review exercises, conducted by both the SAD and the BJP, have outlined the damage the drug issue had done to the ruling regime in 2014 general elections.
Even the State’s senior BJP leadership has hinted at possible political patronage to drug mafia that resulted in the alliance’s loss of seven parliamentary seats.
“Punjab State Narcotics Control Bureau, headed by IG Ishwar Singh, has been constituted. The officer has been given free hand, and he himself has chosen his team. Independent of Punjab police, the Bureau’s job is to identify all persons involved in drug trade. It has been given full autonomy,” said Sukhbir Badal.
Besides the IPS officer, Chandigarh’s Post-Graduate Institute of Medical and Educational Research’s Psychiatry Department’s head Dr Ajit Awasthi, and Punjab Governance Reforms Commission’s chairman Dr Parmod Kumar have also been included in the Bureau. “Dr Awasthi would take acre of the planning, Dr Parmod would suggest ways to educate people, conduct seminars etc,” said Sukhbir.
An administrative set up has also been evolved to intensify war against drugs. For the purpose, the State Government has identified 150 community health centres (CHCs) where treatment would be given to the addicts.
“Every centre would have an experienced doctor who knows how to deal with addicts, and free medicines would be given to them in all these centres. For serious patients, 600 beds have been set aside across the State, and they will be treated by trained doctors under Dr Awasthi’s supervision,” said Sukhbir, adding that the Government is also making efforts to involve the NGOs and other social groups in State’s war.
To coordinate the effort between the police and civil administration, the State Government has appointed ADGP law and Order Dinkar Gupta and State Health Secretary Vinni Mahajan as the nodal officers for the campaign. Besides, a team of 11 IAS and 11 IPS officer would supervise the anti-drug drive as a part of special monitoring cell.
As per figures, 61 lakh psychotropic substances including capsules and other medicines were recovered in 2011. “In 2012, the number increased to 1.14 crore and in 2013, it was 3.65 crore,” said Sukhbir.
PUNJAB IS global TRANSIT POINT
Claiming that the drugs are not manufactured in Punjab, Sukhbir said: “Punjab is an international transit route for flow of drugs from Pakistan and Jammu and Kashmir….it is because of the State’s location.”
145 KINGPINS BEHIND BARS
Sukhbir said more than 27,000 drug peddlers have been sent behind bars, and there were 145 kingpins, out of total 200, who had been caught from various parts of the country and put behind bars, “rest are on the run”.
DCP among 24 COPS DISMISSED
Giving a clear cut message that guilty will be punished, Sukhbir Badal said that 24 police officials, including a DCP had been dismissed from service who were involved in drug trade or have shielded drug peddlers. “Baba Bakala DSP had been placed under suspension for being involved with drug smugglers, his dismissal order are on the way,” he said. Badal added that some BSF personnel involved in drug-related activities have also been held.
CAll 181 TO COMPlAINT AGAINT DRUGS
In an attempt to “involve the citizens” in the State’s war against drugs, the State Government has come up with a round-the-clock functional helpline, a short messaging service (SMS), Fax number, e-mail address, and a Facebook page. “We have introduced a 181 helpline number. Anyone in Punjab, who have anything to tell regarding drugs problem, can inform us by calling us at 181, or SMS us at 76961-81181. We also have a Fax number — 0172-6626181,” said Sukhbir.
ClEAN CHIT TO MAJITHIA AND SWARAN PHIllAUR
Sukhbir gave a clean chit to his brother-in-law and Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia and former Minister Swaran Singh Phillaur, whose names cropped up in drug trade, claiming that there was “no evidence” of their
involvement. Rejecting the Congress party’s claim that drug peddlers had political patronage, he said, “Whosoever he may be, if found involved in drug trade, he will be taken to task.”