143 NDPS cases have been registered in last nine months in District Barnala, 247 accused have been arrested and 163 challans have been presented in the court. The arrested accused include 215 males and 32 females. Rs 2.20 cr worth property of accused has been forfeited under chapter 68 of NDPS Act. Deputy Commissioner Punamdeep Kaur shared the information while addressing the district level task force of NCORD (National Narcotics Coordination Portal) held today. SSP Barnala Mr Sandeep Malik accompanied her.
SSP Mr Sandeep Malik added that acting against the drug peddlers, police have confiscated large amounts of intoxicant tablets, capsules, poppy husk, heroin, opium syrups and recovered Rs 20000 as drug money and recovered 11 vehicles. Deputy Commissioner said that the civil and police administration were working on multi pronged strategy of strict policing, making students and general public aware about ill-effects of drugs and working with addicts on de-addiction.
The district police have identified seven hotspots including Sainsi Basti Barnala, Qila Patti Handiaya, Bazigar Basti Tapa, Sarkari Vehda Sehna, Nanaksar Road Jogi Basti Bhadaur, Sainsi Vehda Pandori and Sainsi Vehda Wajidke Khurd. All these places are regularly checked and a tight vigil is kept.Deputy Commissioner said that the health department is running 14 OOAT centers in the district, one each de-addiction and rehabilitation center and there are five private de-addiction centers. Currently, 26752 people are taking treatment for de-addiction.
Also police have floated anti drug helpline whatsapp number 7508080280 on which people can call and give information. In order to engage people in awareness activities, regular seminars, public meetings, sports events are held so that people can be steered away from this malady.
She added that in month of August, the education department has conducted seminars in 128 schools covering 1580 students. Besides this police have conducted marathon, walkathon, cycle rally, basketball matches, kabaddi tourney, badminton tourney and volleyball tourney to raise awareness against drugs. SSP Mr Sandeep Malik said that at the village level, 187 village defence committees have been formed to take help of villagers for vigilance against drugs.
ADC (G) Latif Ahmed, ADC (G) Satwant Singh, SDM Barnala Gurbir Singh Kohli, SDM Mehal Kalan Harkanwaljit Singh, SDM Tapa Rishabh, SP (H) Hans Raj, SP Gurjot Singh, DSP Paramjit Singh Doad, DSP Satvir Singh, Kamlajit Singh, Baljit Singh, SHOs and other senior officers were also present.