1,485 drug peddlers held since March 1: Cheema

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday said the state government’s drive against the drug menace had resulted in 1,485 arrests, with the police registering 1,072 cases in the past 11 days. “Properties of 26 individuals involved in drug trafficking have been demolished,” said Cheema, adding that these individuals had amassed assets worth crores of rupees through illegal activities and smuggling.

Advertisement

The crackdown on drug peddlers was launched on March 1, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann setting a three-month deadline to make the state narcotics-free.

The government had also formed a sub-committee, including Cabinet ministers, to monitor action against the drug menace. Cheema said the police seized 76 kg of heroin, 50 kg of opium and Rs 50 lakh in cash from drug peddlers since the beginning of the drive. He said around 7 lakh intoxicating tablets and 950 kg of poppy husk had also been seized.

Cheema criticised the previous governments for shielding drug smugglers, contrasting this with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government’s strict actions against them. He highlighted the conviction rate in drug-related cases, slamming previous governments for their alleged nexus with drug traffickers.

He said under AAP, the conviction rate in the NDPS cases has increased to 86 per cent, compared to a much lower 58 per cent during the Congress regime and a mere 40 per cent during the SAD-BJP government. In some districts, the conviction rate has reached as high as 90 per cent, he said.

He accused former CM Amarinder Singh of making false promises to eradicate drugs. Instead of eliminating drugs, the previous Congress government provided protection to drug smugglers. He further accused the previous governments of deliberately conspiring to entangle the youth in drug addiction.