A matter of concern for Punjabis

IG Sukhchain Gill said in a press conference that in the last one week in Punjab, 302 drug smugglers and suppliers have been arrested under the NDPS Act and 221 FIRs including 34 commercial ones have been registered and the police have seized 24.08 rupees from them. Kilo heroin, 10 kg opium, 1.57 quintal poppy and 1.05 lakh tablets, capsules, vaccines, vials of pharma opioids along with drug money worth Rs 20.72 lakh have been recovered. He said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, during the recent review meeting with all the senior officers of Punjab Police, instructed all the CPs and SSPs to go to the field and hold public meetings in the village panchayats, so that primary information regarding drugs can be gathered. Information can be obtained, which will help in preventing crime and eradicating drugs. He said that CPs and SSPs have also been asked to expand awareness activities against drugs, conduct small flag marches in their jurisdiction and hold periodic meetings with prominent persons of the society. It is noteworthy that during the last 10 days, Punjab Police has organized at least 175 awareness programs including 13 big programs to make people aware about the ill effects of drugs. Punjab Police is spreading awareness and creating awareness about Section 64A of the NDPS Act, which provides opportunities for rehabilitation to drug addicts caught in possession of a few grams of heroin or intoxicating powder. He further said that there is a misconception among the people that under Section 64A one will have to face legal trouble for a long time but the reality is that a drug addict caught with a small quantity of drug has the power to voluntarily quit the drug. There is an opportunity to get medical treatment and for this one will not have to face legal troubles for a long time.

According to the Border Security Force, in the last one year, 71 drones were shot down in Punjab while a total of 95 drones were shot down on the western borders, especially the borders with Punjab. This was said by Director General of Border Security Force Western Command, Yogesh Bahadur Khurania. According to Khurania, small drones of 400 to 500 grams have been coming for the last 3-4 months. Smuggling is being done through cross border rivers and drains, but BSF has installed sensors in the rivers near the border. Khurania said that with the Ministry of Home Affairs increasing the jurisdiction of BSF in Punjab from 15 to 50 km, continuous patrolling, setting up of temporary posts, checkpoints, mobile check posts and deployment in interior areas in collaboration with Punjab Police has been increased. This has stopped illegal activities. How much heroin and doda seized in Punjab in two years: 484.515 kg in 2021, 316.988 kg in 2022. Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken cognizance of the ongoing drug smuggling case on the India-Pakistan border. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Ritu Bahri and Justice Nidhi Gupta has issued notice to Punjab, Center and BSF in this matter and sought their reply. The High Court asked the Punjab Government what steps have been taken so far on the BSF proposal. The High Court has ordered the government to give a detailed report on this in the next hearing. In this regard, cognizance was taken of a news item stating that as an important step to curb the persistent challenge of drug smuggling along the Punjab border, the BSF has sent a comprehensive proposal to the Punjab Police. BSF has handed over a list of 75 people suspected in cross-border drug smuggling to Punjab Police and recommended their detention. It was said that these people were working as couriers and running smuggling modules in different areas. The proposal emphasizes on detaining suspected drug smugglers in the identified districts to curb their influence. In this way the security system can be strengthened by reducing the potential threat. Citing the data released by BSF, it was said that so far in the year 2023, about 755 kg of narcotics have been seized and 95 drones coming from Pakistan have been shot down. 36 Pakistanis have been arrested and 15 rifles and 38 pistols have been recovered from them and 9 Pakistanis who were trying to cross the border have been killed. In such a situation, it is necessary to take precautionary measures keeping security in mind.

The increasing drug trafficking and drug addiction in Punjab should be a matter of concern for Punjabis. It is clear from the facts released by Punjab Police and Border Security Team that if no concrete steps or policies are made at the society and government level to stop the increasing drug use and smuggling, then in the near future Punjab will fall into the quagmire of drugs. He will get so trapped that it will be difficult for him to get out.

The cognizance that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has taken in the drug case shows that the well-wishers of Punjab, wherever they are, are concerned about the increasing drug trafficking and addiction in Punjab today. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the Punjab government should run an anti-drug campaign in the state as well as take concrete action against drug smugglers. Delay in this matter will prove suicidal.

– Irwin Khanna (Chief Editor, Dainik Uttam Hindu)