Punjab CM reiterates demand for national drug policy

Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh on Saturday reiterated his demand for a national drug policy to sort out the scourge, saying there’s a necessity for extra synergy between the Special Task Force (STF), the police and the Intelligence wing to get rid of medication from the State.

Calling for the assist of all stakeholders to battle the menace, which he termed a world drawback, the Chief Minister stated whereas the neighbouring States of Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi had agreed to place in place an efficient mechanism for tackling drug smuggling, no important progress had been made.

Asserting his authorities’s zero tolerance to medication, the Chief Minister attributed the issue to the sturdy nexus between smugglers, gangsters and terrorists to advertise narco-terrorism within the State, in addition to Pakistan.

On the International Day towards Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, the Chief Minister stated many of the medication, particularly heroin, are smuggled into Punjab from Afghanistan by way of Pakistan bordering States like Haryana, Jammu-Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi and even Nepal. He termed it a Pakistan conspiracy to weaken Punjab’s youth and weaning them from armed forces. He cited the cases of drug drops by way of drones, and seizure of 700 kg of heroin smuggled into Punjab via Kandla port. In addition, a number of lethal weapons have been smuggled by Pakistan via Uri Sector in J&K, he added.

On the progress made within the battle towards medication, the Chief Minister additionally stated Punjab had efficiently acquired two A class gangsters deported, Sukhpreet Budhha from Armenia in 2019 and Sukh Bhikhariwal from UAE in 2021. Gaurav Patiyal was within the means of being deported from Armenia whereas Ramanjit Romi, a handler of gangsters, was being introduced again from Hong Kong. Further, efforts have been on to convey again gangsters Harry Chattha from Portugal and Gagan Hathur from Australia, he stated.