Chandigarh, June 30: With a high number of drug-related deaths reported in the state this month, DGP Punjab Suresh Arora on Friday held a seven-hour-long meeting with all range IGs, police commissioners, DIGs and SSPs, besides DGP-Intelligence and DGP-Law and Order at the Punjab Police Academy, Phillaur, to find a way to deal with the problem.
He issued a warning to the field officers against any laxity or complacency on the issue, saying they would be held accountable if activities of the drugs smugglers are not checked immediately.
Arora told The Tribune that efforts were in place to control the drug menace. “Though the district SSPs have reported different figure than the one appearing in media, nevertheless it is a serious issue confronting all of us.”
Notably, the STF against drugs was not part of the meeting.
A government spokesperson said the meeting also discussed the current security scenario, and the law and order situation in the state. Issues relating to terrorist activities, radicalisation of youth for anti-national activities, action against drug smugglers, gangsters etc. were on top of the agenda.
The DGP ordered all field officers to carry out systematic financial investigations into illegally acquired assets and properties by smugglers and initiate the process of seizing them.
The field officers were asked to identify habitual offenders of drug cases and initiate proceedings of “preventive detention” against them.
He also asked them to launch vigorous publicity campaigns against drugs by involving NGOs, members of the civil society, panchayats, educational institutions etc., besides proactively engaging with youth to check the menace of drug abuse.
Source Tribune India
