Inspector General of Rupnagar Range, Gurpreet Singh Bhullar while terming drug abuse as a contagious disease, stressed on visible and head on action to prevent its further spread among the society especially teenagers and youth. He said there is a dire need of cooperation of all sections of society to stop its further spread.
Participating in the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting held under the chairpersonship of District Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain at DAC, SAS Nagar today, Inspector General of Police Bhulllar further said that the Punjab Police had been doing its duty to intercept the supply of contrabands across the international border as well as drug smugglers in the state but we need to be vigilant to stop its consumption from our society too.
He said that like COVID disease, we can isolate the affected persons from the society rather we have to treat the addicted person by making available good company and counseling. He stressed on the need to work together to save the people from falling prey to the clutches of drugs.
Deputy Commissioner, Aashika Jain exhorted all the stakeholders to re-access the hot spots of drugs. She said the hot spots may be Villages, lonely places, forest areas, educational institutes and chemist shops etc.
Insisting upon the need of joint checking by SDMs and DSPs of respective sub divisions, she asked them to re-access the hot spots. Directing the authorities to keep check on chemist shops, sale of prohibited drugs, she said that Drug Control authorities should rope in police and civil administration officers too in inspection of the chemist shops.
Asking the school teachers to sensitise school students of ill effects of drugs, he stressed upon periodic and random checking of their school bags. Apart from that SDMs and DSPs were asked to visit the educational institutes and develop intimacy with the students to caution them against the abuse of drugs and company of such persons.
Forest and Wildlife officials asked to monitor the SYL area and forests to check any illegal activity there. The deputy commissioner exhorted the social and religious organisations to adopt the abandoned addicted youth to bring them back to the mainstream society from the darkness of addiction.
She directed the school authorities to play anti-drug plays and skits especially during the upcoming event ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diya’. Senior Superintendent of Police, Dr Sandeep Garg while disclosing the anti drug drive helpline whatsApp number 8054100112 and email id: [email protected], sought the cooperation of the locals to curb the drug peddlers and smugglers. He said that the district police is committed to root out the drugs from the district and working diligently.
He said that a dedicated team has been assigned with the task to keep a hawk's eye on the anti social elements indulged in drug smuggling activities and take strict action accordingly.