Focus back on drug abuse among cops

PK Jaiswar

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, November 21

If dope test conducted by the rural police is anything to go by, rampant drug abuse in Punjab seems to have taken its toll on Punjab Police personnel as well.

On Thursday, the rural police got the dope test of as many as 22 cops conducted after they were suspected of consuming drugs. Of them, 15 were confirmed to be using drugs. Though departmental action was initiated against them, they were shifted out of other police districts.

SSP Dhruv Dahiya pointed out that adopting zero tolerance against drug abuse, he ordered dope test of 22 cops, who were suspected of taking drugs. The test was conducted on Thursday and the reports of 15 policemen came out positive. As they have brought a bad name to the disciplined force, departmental action was immediately initiated against them.

Last year also, several policemen were found consuming drugs during the dope test. Of 23, as many as 13 cops were found positive. A policeman was also suspended after he used his wife’s urine sample for dope test.

Every now and then, videos of cops consuming drugs goes viral on social media platform. An ASI Jorawar Singh posted with the Tarn Taran police was dismissed by the Punjab Government after a video of him taking drugs went viral on social media in August this year. Similarly, an ASI and a constable posted with the rural police were arrested after their video of consuming drugs went viral in 2017.

Dr PD Garg, professor, psychiatry department at Government Medical College and former director of Swami Vivekananda De-Addiction Centre at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital pointed out that there was a need to have a survey of police personnel to know how alarming the situation is among the force.

“In the absence of any survey, nobody could guess the extent of problem and you cannot take remedial measures until you know it,” he said.

According to estimates, a large number of cops in the lower ranks were in the habit of consuming some or the other drugs, including opium or sedative pills, while consumption of alcohol was most rampant, said a doctor associated with the de-addiction centre at GMC, adding that the de-addiction centre does receive such patients (cops).

Not the first time

• Last year also, several policemen were found consuming drugs during the dope test.
• Of 23, as many as 13 cops were found positive.
• A policeman was also suspended after he used his wife’s urine sample for the dope test.
• Every now and then, videos of cops consuming drugs goes viral on social media platforms.
• An ASI, Jorawar Singh, posted with the Tarn Taran police was dismissed by the Punjab Government after a video of him taking drugs went viral on social media in August this year.
• Similarly, an ASI and a constable posted with the rural police were arrested after their video of consuming drugs went viral in 2017.

EXPERTSPEAK

Adopting zero tolerance against drug abuse, I ordered dope test of 22 cops, who were suspected of taking drugs. The test was conducted on Thursday and the reports of 15 policemen came out positive. As they have brought a bad name to the disciplined force, departmental action was immediately initiated against them. —Dhruv Dahiya, SSP

There is a need to have a survey of police personnel to know how alarming the situation is among the force. In the absence of any survey, nobody can guess the extent of problem and you cannot take remedial measures until you know it. —Dr PD Garg, professor, psychiatry department at Government Medical College and former director of Swami Vivekananda De-Addiction Centre at Guru Nanak Dev Hospital

According to estimates, a large number of cops in the lower ranks are in the habit of consuming some or the other drugs, including opium or sedative pills, while consumption of alcohol is most rampant. —A doctor associated with the de-addiction centre at GMC