PUNJAB POLICE LAUNCHES SPECIAL AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TO TAKE ON DRUGS

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKE PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— CPs/SSPs WILL ORGANISE SPORTS EVENTS, CYCLOTHONS, DRAMAS, SEMINARS, ETC IN THEIR DISTRICTS TO ENGAGE PUBLIC IN FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS

— FATEHGARH SAHIB POLICE ORGANISED “THE FATEH CUP”— A BASKETBALL EVENT TO COMMENCE THIS DRIVE

— THE FATEH CUP NOT ONLY SERVED AS COMPETITIVE PLATFORM BUT ALSO AS A STRIDE IN SPREADING AWARENESS AGAINST DRUGS: SSP DR RAVJOT KAUR GREWAL

CHANDIGARH, June 16:Amidst the ongoing crackdown against drugs as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Police has embarked on a special anti-drug awareness campaign to foster a sense of unity and collaboration among the general public in the fight against this critical issue.

Under this special awareness campaign against drugs, Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police (CPs/SSPs) will organise different events in their respective districts to engage the general public, youth, non-government organisations (NGOs), clubs, etc in the fight against drugs.

The events including basketball tournaments, kabbadi, cricket matches, volleyball, football, cyclothon, awareness camps, dramas, nukkad nataks, marathons, seminars and public meetings will be organised during this campaign.

The drive commenced with "The Fateh Cup— an inclusive and spirited basketball event” organised by the Fatehgarh Sahib Police at Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College in Fatehgarh Sahib on Saturday.

Terming the event as an initiative aimed at raising awareness against drug addiction, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Fatehgarh Sahib Dr Ravjot Kaur Grewal said that this initiative brought together the community, especially focusing on the youth, through the power of sports, emphasising teamwork, discipline, and healthy living.

The event has witnessed an impressive schedule, featuring a total of 16 matches by 17 teams— including four teams of U-14 boys, five teams of U-17 boys, four teams of U-17 girls and four teams of the senior men’s category.

Dr Ravjot said that the Fateh Cup has not only served as a competitive platform but also as a stride in spreading awareness about the perils of drug addiction. Through this initiative, the Fatehgarh Sahib Police reinforced their dedication to safeguarding the well-being of their community, she added.

While expressing gratitude to all the participants, the SSP said that the overwhelming participation and support signify a collective resolve to eradicate drug addiction and promote a culture of wellness and vigour.

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WITH FOCUS ON POINT OF SALE, PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCTS CASO AT DRUG HOTSPOTS IN STATE

— THREE-PRONGED STRATEGY IN PLACE TO WIPE OUT DRUGS FROM THE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS OF DGP PUNJAB, MAJOR SHAKE-UP OF COPS POSTED AT POLICE STATIONS UNDERWAY

— HEROIN RECOVERY WITNESSES 5.6 TIMES RISE SINCE 2017; CONVICTION RATE IN NDPS ACT STANDS AT 81%

— SPECIAL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA HITS THE GROUND RUNNING TO LEAD POLICE TEAMS TO CONDUCT CASO IN SAS NAGAR

— RANGE ADGPs/IGPs/DIGs AND CPs/SSPs PERSONALLY SUPERVISED THIS SPECIAL OPERATION IN EACH POLICE DISTRICT

— OVER 450 POLICE TEAMS CONDUCTED CASO AT 280 DRUG HOTSPOTS IN PUNJAB: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA

— PUNJAB POLICE REGISTERS 140 FIRs AND ARRESTS 166 PERSONS; 2.7-KG HEROIN, ₹1.50 LAKH DRUG MONEY RECOVERED

CHANDIGARH, June 16: In order to make Punjab a drug-free state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Sunday conducted a massive state-level Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at identified drug hotspots and vulnerable areas with a focus on controlling the drug supply at ‘Point of Sale’.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav from 11am to 2pm simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state. Range ADGPs/IGPs/DIGs and CPs/SSPs were asked to personally supervise the operation in their respective district.

The CPs/SSPs were told to plan this operation in a meticulous manner by identifying drug Hotspots— the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances in their respective districts or certain areas which have become shelter/safe haven for drug peddlers, to carry out this operation amid massive deployment of the police force.

Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who joined Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ropar Range Nilambari Jagdale and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dr Sandeep Garg in SAS Nagar, said that the Punjab Police in its sincere efforts to eradicate drug menace from the border state has been following a multi-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP).

“Under enforcement part, Police have been focusing on controlling drug supply at Point of Sale by booking small drug peddlers, while, illegally acquired properties of big fish are being forfeited under section 68F of the NDPS act,” he said, while adding that the Second Line of Defence all along the border has also been strengthened to prevent smuggling of drugs from across the border.

The Special DGP said that after clear directions from the DGP Punjab regarding the police personnel from constable rank to Inspector rank— who have been posted at Police Stations for three or more years, a major reshuffle of cops in all the Police Stations is underway across the state.

He said that the Police officers have categorically been asked to look into forward and backward linkages of all the cases being registered under the NDPS act and take strict action against those found in collusion with the drug smugglers. Eye is being kept on all the drug smugglers lodged in jails as well, he added.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla said that following the strenuous efforts of the Punjab Police to root out drug menace from the state, Heroin recoveries have jumped 5.6 times (567%) since 2017. As per the information, Punjab Police seized a record heroin of about 1346 kg in 2023, while, 594kg was seized in 2022, 571kg in 2021, 760kg in 2020, 460kg in 2019, 424kg in 2018 and 179kg in 2017.

Similarly, the conviction rate in NDPS Act has also improved from 59 per cent in 2018 to 81 per cent in 2023, he added.

He said that apart from the Enforcement of laws against drug trafficking, the Punjab Police has also launched a special campaign against drugs as part of Prevention to educate the masses and get support of the general public in fight against drugs. As part of Deaddiction, Drug consumers— caught with little quantity of drugs— are exhorted to avail the provision of section 64-A of the NDPS act, which provides them with an opportunity for Deaddiction and rehabilitation, he added.

Sharing details of CASO, the Special DGP said that over 450 Police teams, comprising over 3000 police personnel, have cordoned off as many as 280 drug hotspots.

During the operation, the Police registered 140 first information reports (FIRs) after arresting 166, he said.

Sharing outcomes, Spl DGP Arpit Shukla said that Police teams have recovered 2.7-Kg Heroin, ₹1.50 lakh drug money, 12.2kg poppy husk, 5820 intoxicant tablets and a huge quantity of illicit and licit liquor and lahan, besides, impounding 16 motorcycles and three cars.