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Tribune News Service
Bathinda, June 26
Chemist shops in the city selling illegal drugs have come under the scanner with the Food and Drugs Department in collaboration with the Bathinda Police launching a special drive by identifying and raiding suppliers of illegal medicines particularly to addicts.
In the latest catch, the police recovered hundreds of unaccounted Tramadol tablets from Mahindra Chemists. This happened to be fourth in a series of ongoing checks where chemists have been found selling addictive medicines without maintaining proper stocks during the recent times. Reliable sources said at least 12 more chemists were on the list of defaulters, under scrutiny, in various parts of the city.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Indermohan Singh Bhatti said: “Police records show that there had been a sizeable reduction in transport and availability of drugs in the district over the past few months. At the same time we have reports that medicines were now being used by addicts. In fact, we have confirmed reports of these being transported outside the state as well.”
The Senior Superintendent of Police said: “Chasing inputs on the Dabwali and Killianwali routes being used in transit of drugs across the border after meetings with officers of Haryana, we have chalked out detailed deployment as well as surprise check plans.”
A food and drug inspector said: “We have different areas divided among our team and preliminary reports indicated more chemist shops indulging in illegal practice of giving drugs without prescription, most of which were used by addicts.”
The officer said: “The law needs to be a little strict against defaulters because except confiscating the questionable drugs there was no immediate action against the defaulting chemists. At least seven chemists who face action following recovery and of unaccounted medicines have approached the high court and the issue hangs fire.”
A chemist, on condition of anonymity, said: “Unless the authorities ensured that no medicines will be sold without prescription, the practice of illegal sale will not stop. Except for a negligent number of chemists selling illegal products, no chemist indulged in sale of medicines that would as drugs by youngsters because no one will like to live with the name of supplier of drugs.”
“Police action against guilty was fine but harassing all chemists was no brave policing,” the chemist added.
12 more chemists on list of defaulters
In the latest catch, the police recovered hundreds of unaccounted Tramadol tablets from Mahindra Chemists. This happened to be fourth in a series of ongoing checks where chemists have been found selling addictive medicines without maintaining proper stocks during the recent times. Reliable sources said at least 12 more chemists were on the list of defaulters, under scrutiny, in various parts of the city.