— 2424 BIG FISH AMONG 14951 DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD; 795-KG OPIUM, ₹13.67 CRORES DRUG MONEY RECOVERED THIS YEAR
— IN A FIRST, 65 DRUG CONSUMERS PLEDGED FOR REHABILITATION UNDER SECTION 64-A OF NDPS ACT, SAYS IGP SUKHCHAIN SINGH GILL
— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO FREEING PUNJAB FROM DRUGS AND CRIME AS PER VISION OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN
— THIS YEAR, AGTF ALONG WITH FIELD UNITS ARRESTS 482 GANGSTERS/CRIMINALS BESIDES NEUTRALISING NINE; RECOVERS 519 WEAPONS
— PUNJAB POLICE’S INTERNAL SECURITY ARRESTS 67 TERRORISTS IN A YEAR; 111 DRONES RECOVERED
— PUNJAB POLICE’S SADAK SURKHYA FORCE ALL SET TO HIT ROADS SOON
Chandigarh, December 27:
Intensifying the ongoing war against drugs waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to root out the menace of drugs from the border state, Punjab Police led by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav has set a new benchmark by seizing highest-ever 1161 kilograms of heroin in the year 2023, said Inspector General of Police (IGP) Headquarters Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill here on Wednesday.
Pertinently, the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Prevention and Rehabilitation— to eradicate drugs from the state. As part of the strategy, the Punjab Police has been promoting and creating awareness about section 64-A of the NDPS act, which provides an opportunity to a drug consumer—caught with a few grams of heroin or narcotic powder— for rehabilitation.
“This is for the first time that 65 drug consumers, caught with little quantity of drugs, availed provision of section 64-A of the NDPS by pledging to undergo the rehabilitation treatment,” said the IGP.
Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, who was addressing a ‘Year Ender’ Press Conference, said that from January 1 to December 26, 2023, Punjab Police have arrested 14951 drug smugglers/suppliers, including 2424 big fish after registering 10786 first information reports (FIRs), including 1385 commercials.
Apart from seizing big haul of 1161-kg heroin, Police teams have also recovered 795-Kg opium, 403 quintals of poppy husk, and 83.17 lakh tablets/capsules/injections/vials of Pharma opioids from across the state, he said, while adding that drug money worth Rs 13.67 crores was recovered from drug smugglers arrested this year.
“Punjab Police have also forfeited 294 properties worth Rs 127 crores (Rs 110.64 crores immovable and Rs 16.45 crores movable property) of big smugglers this year, while, 90 more proposals to forfeit properties worth Rs 26 crores are pending with the competent authority,” said the IGP.
He said that as part of the ongoing special drive to arrest Proclaimed Offenders (POs)/Absconders in NDPS cases, Punjab Police have arrested 673 POs/Absconders since January 1, 2023.
Further tightening the noose around the repeated offenders under the NDPS act, IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that Punjab Police had sent a list of 55 such drug smugglers to the STF Headquarters to invoke Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) act against them. The section 3 of the PIT-NDPS Act empowers the government to take such drug smugglers into preventive custody to prevent them from engaging in illicit traffic of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Recounting the achievements of Punjab Police against the gangsters front in 2023, the IGP said that the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) along with field units has succeeded in busting 188 gangsters/criminals modules after arresting 482 gangsters/criminals, after recovering 519 weapons, 102 vehicles used in criminal activities, 4.5 KGs heroin and Rs 71.08 lakhs drug money.
He said that at least 60 encounters (exchange of fires) took place between the police parties and criminals this year, during which nine gangsters/criminals were neutralised and 127 gangsters/criminals were arrested, of which, 32 had sustained injuries. “Unfortunately, one of our colleague attained martyrdom, while, six police personnel had sustained injuries during the exchange of fires,” said IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill.
Notably, immediately after coming to power, the CM Bhagwant Mann-led state government on April 6, 2022, formed a special Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) headed by ADGP Promod Ban to wipe out gangsters from the state.
The IGP said that this year, six major incidents had taken place in Punjab including three low-grade explosive blasts at Heritage Street in Amritsar; a murderous attack at Batala-based Hindu Shiv Sena (Samajwadi) leader and his brother and his son; Kulcha shop owner murdered in Bathinda; Dacoity in Ludhiana; Ex-Sarpanch murdered in village Khosa Kotla in Moga; Ludhiana based industrialist was kidnapped and shot at by miscreants to extort money. Punjab Police have effectively solved all these major crimes in a record time, he added.
He said that acting tough against extortion calls, Punjab Police have registered 201 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested 99 persons involved in making threatening calls to extort money from influential persons.
Divulging details on action against terrorists, the IGP that in 2023, the Internal Security has busted 13 terror modules with the arrest of 67 terrorists after recovering two Rifles, 55 Revolvers/Pistols, two Tiffin Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), 2.14Kg RDX and other explosives, two Hand Grenades and 111 Drones. Police teams have recovered 253 kg heroin, 16 pistols, two rifles including an AK-47 rifle along with magazines and live cartridges and Rs 20.26 lakh drug money dropped via drones, he said, while adding that there were 303 drone sightings this year.
He said that CM Bhagwant Singh Mann had already sanctioned Rs 19.25 crores for the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras in the border areas to further strengthen the second line of defence and keep vigil against drug smugglers and anti-social elements, while, two committees were formed to counter rogue drones effectively.
The first committee headed by ADGP Security SS Srivastava will prepare a future road map for bolstering the capabilities in drone detection, neutralisation, lawful use of drones for effective policing, disaster management, drones training, and drones forensics, he said, while adding that the second committee headed by ADGP Counter Intelligence to assess the requirements of drones, training for use of drones, countering rogue drones and procurement of equipment.
The IGP said that to provide employment opportunities to the youth and channelise their energy in right manner, the Punjab Government has decided to recruit 1800 Constables and 300 Sub-Inspectors every year for the coming four years. This year, 746 Sub-Inspectors and 144 Civilian Support Staff have been given appointment letters while, the recruitment of 787 Head Constables in Investigation cadre is almost completed and 3496 constables in different cadres is under process, he added.
He said that in 2023, six cheques of Rs 2 crores (Rs 1 crore ex-gratia and Rs 1 crore HDFC insurance cover) were handed over to the families of five Punjab Police officials and one Home Guard, who attained martyrdom in the line of duty.
On the upcoming project, IGP Sukhchain Singh Gill said that the ambitious project of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann aimed at making Punjab roads safer and reducing road accident fatalities, Sadak Surkhya Force (SSF) is all set to hit the roads. The SSF is a special police team dedicated towards road safety and effectively chasing criminals.
In yet another unique initiative aimed at cultivating smarter and safer road networks in the state, the Punjab Road Safety and Traffic Research Centre (PRSTRC) under the auspices of the traffic wing of Punjab Police, have installed Solar Powered Smart barricades, boasting advanced AI capabilities, which can adeptly read license plates, identify blacklisted vehicles, and expeditiously alerts authorities to any suspicious activities. These barricades, adorned with flashing lights and a robust speaker, are capable of operating 24×7.
