Himachal Pradesh Government Launches Six-Month Crackdown on Drug Network, CM Vows Zero Tolerance.
Shimla:
In a bold move to tackle the growing drug menace in Himachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a comprehensive plan to dismantle the state’s drug network within the next six months. During a high-level meeting with senior officials from the Police and other departments on Saturday, CM Sukhu directed the authorities to initiate a massive crackdown on drug trafficking, leaving no drug peddler or trafficker unpunished.
The Chief Minister, emphasizing a firm stance against drug abuse, reiterated that no one involved in the illegal trade would be spared. He made it clear that even government employees found complicit in the drug trade would face stringent actions, including termination from their jobs. “Government employees found with concrete evidence of involvement in drug smuggling will be dismissed from service,” he asserted.
A key part of the crackdown includes the implementation of the PIT-NDPS (Preventive Detention under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act), which CM Sukhu stressed must be followed to the letter. He expressed concerns about delays in processing PIT-NDPS cases and ordered all pending cases to be reviewed and disposed of within a week.
In a bid to make the campaign more effective, the CM directed the Police Department to strengthen the Anti-Narcotics Task Force and establish a new Special Task Force, which will be headed by a senior police officer. The task forces are expected to aggressively target drug peddlers and dismantle their networks across the state. Additionally, the Chief Minister ordered a comprehensive investigation into the bank accounts of suspected drug traffickers and mandated the attachment of their properties and those of their associates.
Reiterating his commitment to secure the future of Himachal Pradesh’s youth, Sukhu promised to personally monitor the anti-drug campaign. As part of this, he instructed the Police Department to map out the drug peddlers and victims at the panchayat level, with the report to be submitted by March 15, 2025. Involving local Panchayat representatives and Nambardars in the fight against drugs, the CM hopes to strengthen grassroots-level action.
The Chief Minister also vowed to tackle corruption within the police force, directing senior officers to take strict action against those reluctant to register drug trafficking cases. He urged the police to ensure that all NDPS cases reach their logical conclusion, conducting thorough investigations into both the forward and backward links of each case to uproot the entire network.
To expedite the legal process, the state government is working to establish Special Courts for fast-tracking NDPS cases, and provisions for parole will be enforced strictly. The CM also announced plans to introduce the HP Anti-Drug Act during the upcoming Vidhan Sabha session, which will differentiate between drug victims and peddlers.
As part of its broader strategy, the state government is establishing a state-of-the-art rehabilitation center in Kotla Behar, Sirmaur district, for drug victims. CM Sukhu further directed increased vigilance in pharmaceutical companies, emphasizing that any company found involved in the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs would have its license revoked and face criminal charges.
In addition to these measures, the Chief Minister stressed the importance of a massive awareness campaign to educate the public about the severe consequences of drug abuse.
This proactive stance against drugs aims to not only dismantle the drug trade but also ensure a secure and drug-free future for Himachal Pradesh’s youth. Senior officers, including Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, DGP Dr. Atul Verma, and other top officials, were present at the meeting and are expected to play a key role in the implementation of the crackdown.
With this landmark initiative, the Himachal Pradesh government hopes to make significant strides in combating the drug crisis in the state.
