Yogi government tightens noose around drug peddling mafia
Lucknow: Under the chairmanship of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a meeting of the Ncord State Level Committee was held at his official residence here. Officials of various departments of Government of India and State Government participated in the meeting.
The Chief Minister said that the problem of drug trafficking is not the problem of any one state, but it is a widespread problem and efforts to deal with it should also be integrated. All the forces involved in enforcement should unite and take action in this direction. We have to make multipronged efforts to investigate the source of drugs, end its network, arrest the culprits and rehabilitate drug addicts.
There is a need to intensify the campaign against illegal manufacture, purchase and sale of drugs and drug trafficking in the state. Collect information through strong intelligence, prepare a better action plan, then take big action with complete preparation. Strictest action including attachment should be taken against those who are found involved in such anti-social activities. It is necessary to destroy the entire network of drug mafia.
The Chief Minister said that vigilance and intelligence will have to be improved in sensitive districts. Vigilance should be increased on the inter-state and international borders. Along with the Home Department, the Urban Development and Rural Development Department will also have to cooperate in this campaign. Stringent action should be ensured against the drug mafia with better coordination.
It has been decided by the Narcotics Control Bureau, Government of India (NCB) to set up a new zone headquarters in district Gorakhpur. The state government should make availability of necessary land and other resources for the headquarters building. This effort of NCB will be our big ally in ending illegal drug trade in the state.
The Chief Minister said that people involved in the illegal business of drug trafficking are the enemies of the society. They are criminals of humanity. Zero tolerance policy should be adopted in such cases. It is necessary to hear NDPS cases in fast track courts, so that criminals are punished quickly. Under the NDPS Act, special courts should be set up in the districts with maximum pending cases. Necessary action should be taken in this regard from the government level.
Taking important steps in August last year, Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has been constituted by the state government for well-planned and effective action against drug trafficking in the state. ANTF has all necessary rights like search, seizure, arrest, attachment, custody, discussion. It is a matter of pleasure that in the National Conference of ANTF chiefs, considering the system of Uttar Pradesh as ideal, it was considered exemplary for other states. All necessary resources should be made available as per the requirement of ANTF.
The Chief Minister said that while expanding the infrastructure facilities in ANTF, presently ANTF police stations have been established in Gorakhpur, Meerut and Barabanki. While 05 operational units are functional. In the next phase, ANTF police stations should also be made functional in Jhansi, Saharanpur and Ghazipur.
Good results are being seen in the efforts of the state government to effectively curb the illegal purchase, sale, use etc. of drugs. In the year 2020, more than 11,400 criminals were arrested, while in the year 2021 and 2022, 11,749 and 11,595 people were arrested respectively. 64 people have been arrested in 26 cases by ANTF alone, while illicit drugs worth Rs 27 crore 43 lakh have been seized.
The Chief Minister said that proper use should be made of Encord portal and Nidan platform of Government of India for effective action against drug trafficking. The Anti-Narcotics Task Force should be further strengthened so that decisive action can be taken in the fight against drugs.
According to the intention of the Government of India, meetings of district level and state level Ncord Committee should be held at regular intervals. This meeting should be held every month in each case. There is information of delay in the meeting in some districts. These districts should be reviewed by Principal Secretary Home and Special DG Law and Order.
The Chief Minister said that the fight against drugs is not a fight of any one government, but a fight of the people. The fight against drugs has to be made a mass movement. This year, preparations should be made to organize a state-wide awareness program on de-addiction from Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay’s birth anniversary (September 25) to Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary (October 2).
Better work should be done to increase awareness for de-addiction in educational institutions. Videos of the experiences of drug addicts should be circulated. Awareness material should be distributed in higher educational institutions, conferences should also be organised. Training of teachers should also be done during the holidays.
The Chief Minister said that voluntary/non-governmental organizations like ‘Apna Ghar’ in Varanasi have done inspiring work in the direction of their rehabilitation by showing them the path of drug addiction and giving them a new life. Such non-governmental organizations, religious organizations should be encouraged in all districts. In the first phase, preparations should be made to set up such rehabilitation centers at all divisional headquarters.
