Punjab plans to track drug smugglers via GPS anklets

The Punjab Police may soon track the movement of drug smugglers released on bail through GPS-enabled anklets, which they plan to introduce after legal scrutiny. A database of drug smugglers/peddlers is also being developed by the state police on the lines of the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS).

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The centralised data will facilitate forward and backward linkages of the arrested drug smugglers, and enhance the efficiency of tracking and monitoring these individuals.

The PAIS, which has helped trace, identify and catch gangsters and other hardened criminals, is being used by the police to ascertain the criminal record of suspects by uploading their photographs on the portal, accessible only to the police.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav, announcing the new initiatives to check drug smuggling here on Saturday, said the GPS anklets were inspired by the Jammu and Kashmir Police that use similar devices to monitor individuals charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

The implementation may not be immediate as legal clearances and right to privacy need to be examined. “The proposal is being examined from a legal standpoint and will be implemented on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that the right to privacy is respected,” the DGP said, adding that the anklets would be used after obtaining orders from competent courts.

The anklets will ensure that notorious smugglers adhere to bail conditions. The aim is not to target small-time drug users, who will be sent to rehabilitation centres.

Drug de-addiction centres will also be set up inside jails for incarcerated drug users to offer treatment and help them reintegrate into society.

The police will further focus on monitoring the activities of drug users released on bail by involving village elders and panchayats to integrate them into the mainstream. This community-based approach aims to motivate such individuals to seek treatment at Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment clinics and rehabilitation centres.

Station house officers will call these individuals to police stations for self-declaration that they will neither consume drugs nor peddle them. However, repeat offenders will face strict action.

Will ensure right to privacy

The proposal is being examined from a legal standpoint and will be implemented on a case-by-case basis, ensuring that the right to privacy of such individuals is respected. Gaurav Yadav, Punjab DGP