Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said Punjab was fighting the nation's war against drugs and had achieved tremendous success as it has snapped the supply line and nabbed not only the drug king pins but also their peddlers.The Deputy CM presented a detailed report on the State's campaign against drugs following requests made in this regard earlier.Giving details, Mr Badal said according to the reports of the Narcotic Control Bureau, Punjab Police alone had registered 16821 cases under NDP act out of 26658 across the nation which amounted to 63% of all cases. He said the Punjab Police had also seized 417 Kg out of the total of 1457 kg seized countrywide in 2013.The Deputy CM said the government had moved effectively against smugglers by confiscating their properties. He said property worth Rs. 66 crore had been seized, he added.
The Deputy Chief Minister also briefed the house that the government had launched a war against drugs on different platforms by catching drug producers, traders and suppliers, besides launching a special drug-de addiction drive by engaging health department, NGOs and heads of religious organizations.
Referring to the drug de-addiction efforts being carried out by the State government, the Deputy CM said the DGP had also been directed to constitute pisional committees headed by the Zonal IGs to involve the Gram Panchayats in this drive. Mr. Badal also announced that Punjab Government would take a lenient view against innocent drug consumers who were not involved in drug trafficking and in any other cases relating to drugs. Instead, Punjab Police would provide all kind of help to rehabilitate them. He said five model drug de-addiction centers with a capital cost of Rs. 5 Crores having 50 beds capacity each had been planned out of which two were fully functional. He said 21 government de addiction centers at districts and sub pisional levels were already operational. He also said that 10 more de-addiction centers were under construction and would become functional very soon.
Reiterating zero tolerance against drug smuggling, Mr. Badal informed the house that recently the State Narcotics Control Bureau had been formed to eliminate drug menace. He said an IG rank officer was heading this bureau and two DIGs and three SSP rank officers had been deputed in field units of the Bureau. Giving comparative data issued by National Crime Record Bureau with regard to cases registered under NDPS act, Mr. Badal said 24584 cases were registered in India in 2011 out of which 5464 were registered by Punjab Police which was 22% of the total cases countrywide. In 2012 28329 cases were registered in the country out of which 10220 were from Punjab which was 36% of the total cases. Punjab had registered 14654 cases in 2013, he said.
Referring to the conviction rate under NDPS Act, Mr. Badal said Punjab has always registered highest conviction rate i.e. 47.5% in 2002, 63.4% in 2003, 53.3% in 2004, 60.2% in 2005, 67.3% in 2006, 69.5% in 2007, 68.3% in 2008, 70.2% in 2009, 70.8% in 2010, 73.7% in 2011, 72.9% in 2012, 80.5% in 2013 and 81.2% up to June 30, 2014.Terming Goa as the hub of narcotics trafficking, Mr. Badal said it was ironical that only 55 cases were registered under NDPS act in Goa while in Punjab 10220 cases were registered whereas Maharashtra registered 1903, Rajasthan 1115 and Tamil Nadu 1402 out of the total 28329 cases registered across the country as per the data provided by NCRB.to deal with the medical psychotropic consumption of drugs, Mr. Badal said drug inspectors would be shifted to Police Department on deputation so that they could assist in operations against traffickers. Replying to a question on that front, Mr. Badal has informed that in 2002 only 7,000 capsules were confiscated against the 3 crore capsules in 2013.To check the drug trade in the jails, Mr. Badal said that “DGP and ADGP jails has been asked to conduct surprise checks in all the jails and if any police or Jail official found involved in shady deeds he would be straightaway dismissed from service".Calling upon all political leaders not to defame Punjab on the drug issue, Mr. Badal said “we are facing a difficult situation but it was not as big as is being made out". He assured the house that Punjab was fighting against drugs with full vigour and would take it to a positive and logical conclusion”. EOM