Recovery of intoxicant injections soars in UT

Naina Mishra

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 4

Around 8,000 injections were recovered by the Chandigarh Police in the past two years. As per data, the recovery of injections almost doubled in the past two years.

While 2,108 injection were recovered by the police in 2016, the number stood at 3,989 and 3,980 in the past two years, respectively.

As per findings of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, around 1,500 persons in Chandigarh inject drugs.

The ministry’s report, “ Magnitude of Substance in India”, suggests that the intake of drugs through injections was a significant health concern because of the associated risk of HIV, Hepatitis B and C.

Similarly, around 168 kg of ganja was recovered in the past two years. The recovery of charas was significantly lower at 11 kg.

Around 88 kg of ganja was seized in 2017, which was higher that that of 2016, when 55 kg of it was recovered. In 2018, only 24 kg of ganja was recovered by the police.

The Chandigarh Police also recovered 22 kg of poppy husk and 9.6 kg of opium.

NDPS cases decline

In 2016, as many as 148 cases were registered under the NDPS Act, which increased by 67 per cent with 240 cases and the arrest of 244 persons in 2017. There was a dip of 25 per cent in 2018 as 178 cases were registered under the Act with the arrest of 182 persons.

Last year, major women drug peddlers were arrested. These included Poonam, Nirmala, alias Nimmo, Banno and Shakila, alias Bhabhi.