Punjab Police's decisive fight against drugs, DGP Gaurav Yadav shared important information
Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on Monday that the police has taken a tough stand against drug smugglers and in many cases bulldozers have also been run on the illegal properties of smugglers. DGP Gaurav Yadav, while addressing a press conference at the Punjab Police Headquarters in Sector 9, Chandigarh, gave information about the ongoing campaign against drugs.
He said that the state government and the police have prepared a comprehensive strategy to make Punjab drug free, under which instructions have been given to further intensify the campaign against drugs by May 31. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann himself is monitoring this campaign and it is being reviewed in high-level meetings. Along with confiscating the property of smugglers, bulldozers are also being run on illegal properties. Drug addicts are being sent to de-addiction centers and work is being done for their rehabilitation.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Punjab Police has taken a tough stand against drug smugglers. So far, 90 per cent conviction rate has been achieved in cases registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which is the highest in the country. 4,600 FIRs have been registered since March 1 this year, in which 7,414 people have been arrested. Police have recovered 297 kg heroin, 21,770 capsules of narcotics and drug money worth Rs eight lakh. Besides, 908 cordon and search operations (CASOs) have been conducted, in which 73 fugitive offenders (POs) and 659 other suspects have been arrested.
Punjab Police has also cracked down on hawala racket to dismantle the drug smuggling network. DGP said that 31 hawala operators were arrested and hawala money of more than eight lakh rupees was recovered. Using Section 64 NDPS Act effectively, small-scale drug users are being sent for investigation, while illegal properties of big smugglers are being seized. In many cases, bulldozers have also been used on illegal properties of smugglers.
DGP Gaurav Yadav also mentioned the conspiracies at the international level to spoil the atmosphere of Punjab. He said, "International efforts are being made to spoil the atmosphere of Punjab. The government is giving a befitting reply to this by dismantling their modules. After the Pahalgam incident, the Punjab Police is also in constant touch with the BSF. The Punjab Police has also increased its presence in the border districts."
He said that Pakistan is waging a proxy war and trying to spread instability in Punjab through drugs. Punjab Police and the government are giving a befitting reply to this conspiracy. A special campaign will be launched from September to check drug smuggling through drones in the border areas. Emphasizing on rehabilitation of people suffering from drug addiction, the DGP said that such people are being sent to de-addiction centers and special efforts are being made for them. Prompt action is being taken on the information received through Safe Punjab Helpline. The police is focusing on hard drugs, especially heroin.
