Anti-drugs action plan to dip into best practices of all states

Geetanjali Gayatri
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 26

The “eyes and ears scheme” of the Delhi Police, the vulnerability mapping of slum children in Chandigarh, the setting up of the anti-narcotics cells in districts and tightening of vigil around drug smuggling — all a part of the “best practices” being followed by northern states to check the spread of drug addiction — will be adopted in the action plan to be drafted for checking the growing drug menace in Haryana.

Speaking to The Tribune after the conclusion of the coordination meeting of the DGPs of northern states to deliberate on drug addiction, hosted by Haryana, Director General of Police, Haryana, Manoj Yadava, said: “Each state is doing something right. We have seen every state’s presentation and each one of them is doing its bit to tackle the menace. An action plan to be prepared will take into account the various schemes.”

The meeting was attended by representatives of six northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. Admitting that the culprits smuggling and selling drugs were exploiting the lack of coordination between states and the lack of intelligence-sharing to get away, Yadava said all that was discussed at the meeting and would be priority in the coming days.

Yadava said those dealing in drugs used inter-state jurisdiction issues to their advantage which is why smuggling through borders was easier. “They take advantage of loose policing in the border areas. However, through this coordination which is needed at the level of the Superintendents of Police and SHOs, we will deal with such cases,” he added.

Maintaining that creating awareness and educating the youth would be top priority, the DGP explained that the Haryana Police would coordinate with various universities and colleges to reach out to the youth. “We will make teams with the local administration and visit these universities and colleges to spread awareness against drugs and addiction,” he said.

What was discussed

• Culprits smuggling and selling drugs are exploiting the lack of coordination between states and poor intelligence-sharing 
• Creating awareness and educating the youth to be top priority. The police will coordinate with various universities and colleges to reach out to the youth. 
• The police will make teams with the local administration and visit universities and colleges to spread awareness against drugs and addiction

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