Haryana CM orders crackdown on crime, reviews excise auctions

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini last night chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the law and order situation and the ongoing excise auctions in the state.

While issuing stern directives to the Home Department to launch a ‘High Octane drive’ against criminals and ensure a responsive police presence across Haryana, the Chief Minister declared that maintaining robust law and order was the utmost priority of the government.

The Chief Minister expressed concern over the reported murder of an excise licensee in Kurukshetra and directed the DGP to take prompt action against the culprits.

The CM also asked the DGP to take immediate steps to provide security to all citizens who reported threats and extortion calls. He asked for the issuance of a dedicated phone number and its linking with 112 for such reporting.

While reviewing the performance of the Excise and Taxation Department, the CM directed officers to complete the auction process and ensure that the due revenue is realised. In the excise auction, the state has been able to auction a majority of the excise zones, with 934 excise zones auctioned so far, and secure significantly higher revenue of Rs 11,054 crore as compared to last year’s Rs 5,037 crore. The excise auctions have so far attracted a good response.

Saini issued stringent directives to the police force, emphasising a highly visible presence that is pro-people and fearsome for criminals. The Chief Minister underscored the importance of instilling fear of the law among wrongdoers and anti-social elements, thereby ensuring a decisively safer environment for the citizens.

The CM unequivocally mandated that regular and rigorous monitoring of these critical cases must be ensured at the highest levels. He directed that the State Task Force (STF) should be provided with more manpower and resources to expedite the resolution of all pending cases within a strict, time-bound framework, leaving no gangster unpunished or at large.

The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi, Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Rajesh Khullar, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Sumita Misra, Secretary, Excise and Taxation Department Ashima Brar, and Director General of Police Shatrujeet Kapur.