DGP sets May 31 deadline to eliminate drug trafficking

Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Sunday set the May 31 deadline to arrest all drug traffickers in the state.

He asked all district police chiefs to prepare a concrete action plan, which the DGP said would have to be shared with the police headquarters.

If any discrepancy was found in the action plan and drugs recovered after the deadline, the officer concerned would face action, the DGP said in his directive.

Yadav said senior police officers, including Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and Commissioners of Police (CP), would have to take responsibility for a drug-free Punjab.

Commenting on the directions, ruling Aam Aadmi Party spokesperson Neel Garg said, in a statement, that it reaffirmed the state government’s unwavering commitment to making Punjab a drug-free state.

He said if any instance of drug trafficking was found after the deadline, the concerned SSP or Police Commissioner would be held accountable.

The directions have come a fortnight after the Anti-Narcotics Task Force of the Punjab Police arrested a drug peddler with over 18 kg of heroin, the third major drug haul this year.

The accused —Hira Singh (35) of Khaira village in Amritsar— was involved in the smuggling of drugs with the help of drones from across the International Border with Pakistan, according to the police.

The state government had launched an anti-drug drive on March 1. Since then, the state police have registered 4,659 FIRs in connection with drug trafficking, leading to the arrest of 7,414 people, according to the statement.

The government has also demolished 67 buildings allegedly constructed with the proceeds of the crime.

Under the drive, the government had also directed the gram panchayats to put up posters and flex boards to promote the campaign.

However, the initiative hit a hurdle as over 4,900 villages lacked income to fund the initiative.

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria too had earlier launched a week-long padayatra against the menace. (With ANI inputs)

Punjab