Freeze property of drug peddlers within a week of their arrest: Punjab CM to Police officers

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has chalked out a multi pronged strategy to wipe out this curse from the state.

Chairing a meeting with top brass of Punjab Police here today, the Chief Minister said that the state government is going to introduce several reforms for Policing in the state. He said that the state Police had caught a lot of cash and drugs during the run up for polls and got several other vital clues regarding the supply of drugs adding that it came to light that cops at lower level were sometimes involved with drug peddlers resulting in a strong nexus between them. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that as the maiden initiative the state government has transferred a number of police officials at the lowest ebb of the hierarchy who have been squatting on their posts since long.

The Chief Minister said that more than 10,000 transfers have been made so far across the divisions adding that rotation of the postings of the cops is going on to break this nexus. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the move is aimed to check the smuggling of drugs in the state as he had received reports that the officers at lowest level have been involved with drug peddlers. He said that the black sheeps in the Police department are being identified and strict action will be taken against them for their involvement in this unpardonable crime.

The Chief Minister said that if anyone is found involved in smuggling of drugs then the Police will confiscate/ attach/ freeze his property within a week. He said that the officers have been directed to implement this policy zealously so as to check the peddling of drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that to enhance the efficiency of the Punjab Police the state government has decided to create 10,000 new posts in the force.

The Chief Minister said that it will help in checking the crime on one hand and create jobs for the youth in the coming days. He said that Punjab Police has been equipped with the best available technology to maintain law and order in the state adding that Sadak Surkhya Force launched by the state government is running successfully. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that ever since its launch the force has saved more than 2000 precious lives after the accidents on road.

The Chief Minister said that the officers have been asked to transform the war against drugs into a mass movement for welfare of the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that gone are the days when the state government was run on ‘Commission’ adding that now it is being run on ‘Mission’ mode. Similarly, he said that a detailed strategy has been formed to tackle Smugglers, Gangsters and Terrorists who are using drones for operating in the state.

The Chief Minister said that Punjab is fighting the nation’s war against the menace of drugs and no stone will be left unturned against it. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that not even a single ounce of drugs is being produced in the state but it is being smuggled from across the borders and from other states. He said that the Police officers have been asked to respect the people who visit the Police stations for their routine work adding that SSPs will be personally held accountable for undue harassment of general public in their respective districts.

The Chief Minister said that the Police officers have been asked to give due respect to the MLAs and other elected representatives of the people. He said that the state government has already adopted a zero tolerance policy against corruption and drugs adding that no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government will not leave any person, however affluent he might be, who is involved in these heinous crimes.

The Chief Minister said that the state government cannot sit idle and see these people selling the drugs and committing ‘genocide’ of our future generations. He said that the state government will never spare these people and exemplary action will be taken against them so that it acts as a deterrent for others.

The Chief Minister said that state BJP leader Sunil Jakhar is desperately frustrated over not getting a share in power. He said that due to this frustration the former MP is issuing baseless statements against the state government. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders are bothered only about their own vested interests whereas as CM he is concerned about progress of the state and prosperity of people.

The Chief Minister bemoaned that development works came to a standstill due to the long Model Code of Conduct in the state. He said that the state government is committed to the overall progress of the state and prosperity of the people due to which the wheels of state government have been put back in action for the welfare of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that based on the feedback of the people from the grass root level the state government is formulating various policies for their well being.