Launch joint operations to nab drug mafia: Punjab CM
Darpan News Desk IANS, 12 May, 2022 02:49 PM
Chandigarh, May 12 (IANS) In a bid to combat the menace of drugs, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday directed the police officers to act in tandem with the Special Task Force (STF) to launch joint operations to nab the big sharks running drug mafia.
Addressing a high-level meeting here, the Chief Minister categorically said in case any incident of drug supply comes to his notice from any part of the state, then the concerned Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) or the Commissioner of Police (CP) would be held solely accountable.
The Chief Minister also asked the police officers to immediately swing into action in case someone lodges any complaint about drug trafficking. He said no laxity would be tolerated for eradication of drug at any cost as its supply chain would have to be broken to save our youth who had fallen prey to drugs.
Emphasising the need to tightening the noose around the drug smugglers across the state, the Chief Minister said strict action would be taken in case of default bail due to non-presentation of challan in the stipulated mandatory period, particularly in cases of commercial recovery.
Showing zero tolerance for those who are in hand in glove with the drug peddlers, the Chief Minister underlined the need to evolve an effective mechanism to punish the erring police officials who were giving patronage to the drug peddlers.
The Chief Minister also directed the DGP to issue detailed guidelines to all the SSPs not to disclose the price of drugs seized during recovery in the international market as this practice attracts the innocent people to make quick buck.
He, however, said rest of the information regarding quantity seized, location of recovery and the details of accused could be made public.
Underscoring the need, Mann asked the Health and Police departments to work in close coordination with a focus to adopt reformist approach towards petty offenders.
He also asked the DGP to strengthen the investigation mechanism also so that an exemplary punishment could be handed down to the guilty involved in drug mafia at the earliest.
He said this step would go a long way as deterrent for others to desist from selling drugs in future.
The Chief Minister also asked the DGP to speed up the process for confiscation of properties belonging to those involved in drug mafia.
Showing concern over tardy pace in this regard, Mann asked the DGP to personally monitor the progress of confiscated properties every month and keep him updated accordingly.
Condemning the trend of gun culture and gangsterism being promoted by the Punjabi singers in the larger public interest, Mann urged them to desist from fanning violence, hatred and animosity in society through their songs.
He called upon them to follow the ethos of 'Punjab, Punjabi and Punjabiyat', thereby strengthening the bonds of brotherhood, peace and harmony instead of fuelling anti-social activities through such songs.
The farmers union leaders had earlier pointed out that Punjab had failed to hike sugarcane SAP in proportion to Haryana over this period, causing fiscal losses to them.
The Punjab Congress leaders who have distanced themselves from the so-called festering revolt in the party are: Kuldeep Vaid, Dalvir Singh Goldie, Santokh Singh, Angad Singh, Raja Warring and Gurkirat Singh Kotli, all MLAs, and Bhalaipur Ajit Singh Mofar, a former MLA.
Gurbachan Singh (55) was a relieved man after he welcomed his three sons at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport here. They were among the 78 Afghan- Indians who were evacuated from Kabul to Tajikistan on Monday and to Delhi on Tuesday afternoon.
Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters along with former Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram, Gandhi said: "The Prime Minister and the BJP said that the Congress had done nothing in last 70 years. There is a list here of all the assets that the Congress has helped build using the public money.
Accordingly, a special Air India flight from Kabul landed at the IGi airport here on Tuesday carrying 44 Afghan Sikhs, who brought three copies of Guru Granth Sahib with them.
Four dummy AK-47 rifles, 4 dummy pistols, combat uniforms and a Maruti car were recovered from the gang. Gold worth Rs 20 lakh and cash to the tune of Rs 3 lakh were also recovered from their possession.
