Mohali sees rise in drug, liquor smuggling cases

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, December 29

Mohali saw a substantial rise in drug and liquor smuggling cases this year in comparison to such cases in the previous year, here.

The crime data of the Mohali police showed an upsurge of around 70 per cent in drug cases and 30 per cent in liquor smuggling cases this year.

As per the police record, a total of 258 drug cases under the NDPS Act had been registered in various police stations till November 30 this year, whereas the figure of such cases in 2018 in the corresponding period was 154.

Similarly, rum-running also saw a northward trend this year with 294 cases registered under the Excise Act in different police stations here during the above-mentioned period. In 2018, the number of bootlegging cases was 229 till November 30.

Even the cases of abduction/kidnapping have increased this year from 116 to 144. Of the total 144 cases of kidnapping/ abduction, the police claimed to have worked out 120 cases so far.

However, the police had a sigh of relief when it comes to robbery and burglary cases in the district.

A considerable dip of 50 per cent has been witnessed in robbery cases in comparison to the last year. In 2018, as many as six cases of robbery were registered. This year, only three such cases were registered.

Similarly, the cases of burglary saw a dip this year. A total of 143 such cases were registered this year, whereas the figure in 2018 was 159.

The story is no different when it comes to white-collar crime. Last year, the district had witnessed 430 cases of cheating under Sections 419 and 420 of the IPC, while this year the number of such cases has fallen to 356.

Mohali SSP Kuldeep Singh Chahal said most of the cases of heinous crime had been worked out despite the fact the district faces staff shortage.

“Though we don’t have adequate staff, the police have been doing well here. I have also written to the authorities to give us more staff,” said the SSP.