Model drug rehab centres to be set up soon

Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur and Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Aggarwal on Wednesday said 100 FIRs had been registered and 121 drug peddlers arrested in the past one month.

Holding a joint press conference, both officials said the action had come as part of the government’s campaign against drugs, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’.

They maintained that the drug supply chains at the grassroot level had been snapped, leading to major arrests and crackdowns. They claimed that the street-level drug networks had been dismantled. To further curb drug supply, cordon and search operations (CASO) are being conducted weekly in drug hotspots.

The DC said three illegal constructions raised by drug peddlers on the encroached government land had been demolished in Jalandhar city. Additionally, the Police Department has submitted nine proposals to seize illegally occupied properties worth Rs. 3.51 crore belonging to drug traffickers.

The DC and CP further stated that a significant increase in people seeking rehabilitation due to strict enforcement measures is seen. The drug de-addiction centre at the Civil Hospital has seen a 20 per cent rise in OPD consultations and a 65 per cent increase in admissions since the start of the campaign. Similarly, the rehabilitation centre in Seikhe village has recorded a 40 per cent increase in people taking admission for rehabilitation and willingness to quit drugs after this drive.

Sharing future planning to strengthen rehabilitation efforts, they mentioned that a model drug de-addiction centre and a model rehabilitation centre will be established in Jalandhar within two months. These centres will offer facilities like gymnasiums, skill development programmes, counselling sessions, lectures by rehabilitated individuals, and job opportunities for recovered patients.

They also said to curb the misuse of certain medicines as drugs, the administration has issued strict guidelines regulating the sale of three such medicines pregabalin capsules, gabapentin and anafortan injection. Medical stores have been directed not to sell these without a prescription and maintain proper records. Under this initiative, the Health Department has suspended 32 medical store licences and cancelled two for violations. Simultaneously, six search and seizure operations have been launched to track illegal sales.

In another breakthrough, the administration has identified drug hotspots based on addict counselling. The DC and CP stated that the authorities now have detailed intelligence on drug trafficking locations and individuals involved. They announced to adopt these hotspots with a view to transforming into model localities with improved infrastructure, parks, gyms, healthcare facilities and better roads, while the police will continue efforts to cut off drug supply networks. The administration will make these drug hotspots a model for development and drug-free areas on a priority basis.

Additionally, a massive marathon will be organised this month to engage citizens in the anti-drug movement. The police have also launched 'Sampark' programme as a part of citizen engagement initiative with eight community participation programmes held so far. They have also shared the government’s Safe Punjab helpline number 9779-100-200 for reporting drug peddlers while ensuring confidentiality. The drug de-addiction centre helpline 0181-2911960 is also available for those seeking assistance.