CM Bhagwant Mann formulates new action plan to check drug menace in Punjab

Chandigarh, May 12: Showing zero tolerance towards the menace of drugs, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday launched a fresh action plan to curb the drug peddlers and also tighten the noose around any political functionary interfering with its anti-drug campaign. Also Read| Nishan Singh has no link with Mohali blast, claims Faridkot police For the second time in a week, a high level meeting was held by the government in Chandigarh today to end drug abuse in Punjab. It was presided over by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The meeting was attended by all the District Superintendents of Police, District Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners and Commissionerates, Incharges etc. In the meeting that lasted for two hours, many important decisions have been taken to stop drug smuggling. After the meeting, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann told that the police and administration officials have been directed to take immediate action on receiving the complaint and reach root of the supply of drugs. The same drug addicts will be admitted to drug de-addiction centers for treatment. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said that at present there are around 800 drug de-addiction centers in Punjab, whose number will soon be raised to 1000. Counseling of drug addicts will also be done from psychologists in drug centers. Apart from this, the government's priority will also be to provide work to those who give up on drugs. He told that the government has also decided to take the help of those people who have come out of the quagmire to get rid of the addiction. These people will tell the importance of life by sharing their experiences to the people who are addicted to drugs. Notably Special Task Force (STF) teams will be deployed across the state, 4 teams would be deployed in the border area. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann also today summoned the DCs and SSPs of all the districts of Chandigarh seeking their full support to the STF teams. Emphasizing the need to break the supply chain of drugs, Mann asked the police officers to arrest those who are actually selling drugs, not the drug addicts as these persons have already become victims of the drug mafia. He said that with this initiative, ultimately the backbone of the supply chain would be broken and Punjab would soon become a drug-free state adding this could not be accomplished without the wholehearted support of the police force. Focusing his government’s priority on the rehabilitation of drug addicts after a crackdown on the drug smugglers, Mann underscored the need to bring all those back in the mainstream, who had gone astray in the past. The Chief Minister further said that his government would strive hard to run the drug de-addiction centres across the state efficaciously while ensuring there is no shortage of medicines besides running counselling programmes so that the youth after treatment should not again fall prey to drugs. Mann hoped it would now set an example by completely eliminating the drug terror, which has ruined the lives of our youth. He asked police officers to be vigilant while tackling the drug menace with a heavy hand and should be aware of who, where and what kind of drugs were being sold within their jurisdiction. Also Read| Punjab Government to run training camp for 85 debutant MLAs -PTC News