60 govt employees involved in ‘chitta’ trafficking to face strict action: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today told the Assembly that at least 60 government employees had been found involved in ‘chitta’ trafficking and strict action would be taken against them. “The Superintendents of Police have been directed to take strict action against those involved in ‘chitta’ trafficking,” he said while reiterating the zero-tolerance policy of the government against the drug menace.

To a question asked jointly by MLAs DS Thakur (Dalhousie), Malender Rajan (Indora), Vinod Kumar (Nachan) and Kewal Singh Pathania (Shahpur) related to ‘chitta’ trafficking, Sukhu said that the government would raise a special task force to tackle the ‘chitta’ menace in the state. “Also, we will bring an Anti-Drug Act to plug the loopholes, which are used by drug traffickers to their advantage,” he added.

Sukhu informed the House that his government had suggested to the Central Government to introduce amendments to the NDPS Act to make it more stringent. One of the suggestions was that drug trafficking should be made a non-bailable offence regardless of the quantity involved. Besides, the state had also suggested that if any person commits crime under Section 21 and 22 of the NDPS Act, leading to the death of a person, there should be a provision for death penalty or life imprisonment to the offender.

He said that all SPs had been directed to ensure mapping of people, who consume ‘chitta’, in all panchayats. “We have ordered a similar mapping exercise in schools and colleges,” he added.

Sukhu said that due to the strict action taken against ‘chitta’ smugglers by his government, a 30 per cent decline had been recorded in the consumption of the contraband. “Several organised gangs involved in ‘chitta’ trafficking have been busted and 17 properties built with the money earned through drug trafficking have been seized,” he added.

Leader of the Opposition Jai Ram Thakur, however, questioned the Chief Minister’s claim that ‘chitta’ consumption in the state had reduced by 30 per cent. “What’s the basis of this claim? If there has been a 30 per cent reduction, how come ‘chitta’ cases are being reported from even the remotest parts of the state? Youth are dying on road due to drug overdose. Earlier, ‘chitta’ was confined to border areas but now it’s everywhere,” he said.

Thakur suggested to the government to coordinate with neighbouring states for joint action against the ‘chitta’ suppliers.

Meanwhile, the Chief Minister announced that a government drug de-addiction centre would be opened in Solan district. “The centre will be built on 150 bighas to help the addict youth to return to a drug-free life,” he added.

38 drug-related deaths in three years

Around 37.98 kg of ‘chitta’ was confiscated and 4,780 cases were registered under the NDPS Act in the state in the past three years. Besides, 38 deaths were reported due to drug consumption in the state in the past three years.

— Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Chief Minister