Haryana Police is setting new benchmarks in its ongoing campaign against drugs in the state. Under the campaign being run by the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau and district police to break the nexus of drug peddlers in the state, every possible effort is being made. In this series, Haryana Police has registered 3051 cases against drug peddlers from January 1, 2024 to November 30, 2024, and sent 4652 accused behind bars.
Along with this, taking strict action against habitual offenders, preventive detention action was taken against 63 drug peddlers under the PIT NDPS Act in the year 2024 to ensure that these criminals do not get involved in drug trafficking again. Sharing information in this regard, Director General, Police, Sh. Shatrujeet Kapur said that Haryana Police has prepared an effective strategy to break the drug supply chain.
He informed that in the year 2023, Haryana Police had registered 326 commercial quantity cases, while in the year 2024, 411 cases have been registered in which action has been taken against 841 big drug peddlers. He informed that to expedite big cases related to drug smuggling, the time limit for getting reports from the Forensic Science Lab (FSL) has been reduced to 15 days, which will not only expedite the trial but will also help in increasing the conviction rate.
He informed that 5150 Gram Praharis and Ward Praharis have been appointed in the villages to make the state drug-free. Gram Praharis and Ward Praharis keep an eye on those who sell drugs in the villages. Along with this, people who have become addicted to drugs are helped in quitting drugs.
Similarly, due to the success of the Namak Lota campaign, there has been a 15 percent decrease in small-quantity NDPS cases this year compared to the previous year. Under this campaign, the community was made aware and small offenders were encouraged to quit drugs.
Giving detailed information about community participation and awareness programs, Head, Haryana Narcotics Control Bureau,Sh. O.P Singh, said that under the drug-free Haryana campaign, community participation was ensured to make people aware of the ill effects of drugs. In these programmes, people were made aware of the ill effects of drugs through cultural activities, sports, and interactive sessions.
Similarly, Haryana Police ran a Nashamukt Bharat Pakhwada in the state. During the Nashamukt Bharat Pakhwada, anti-drug messages were conveyed to lakhs of people in 15 days. This initiative strengthened the state's efforts at the national level and laid the foundation for widespread public awareness.
Sh. Singh said that considering drug addiction more of a health challenge than a crime, Haryana Police focused on the rehabilitation of drug addicts. By conducting surveys in the state, people who had become addicted to drugs were identified and sent to rehabilitation centers for treatment. During this time, by making a strategic plan with the Health Department, people who were addicted to drugs were helped to come out of its pit.
Sharing the data, he informed that in the state, 411 cases related to drug smuggling were registered in the commercial quantity, 1808 intermediate quantity and 832 in small quantity in the year 2024. He informed that this year, Haryana Police has registered various types of cases and recovered 28 kg 148 grams of heroin, 266 kg 083 grams of charas, 8552 kg 088 grams of ganja, 400 kg 956 grams of opium, 382 kg 277 grams of opium plants, 15441 kg 253 grams of bhukki, 48436 bottles of narcotic drugs, 3,11,776 narcotic capsules, 6,91,681 narcotic tablets, 12778 narcotic injections and other narcotic substances.
He said that Haryana Police is determined to make the state drug-free. Drugs are a big threat to our country and society. It has an adverse effect on health. Appealing to the common people, he said that if they see drugs being sold anywhere around them, they should immediately inform the Haryana Narcotics Control Bureau on the toll-free number- 9050891508.