SAS NAGAR: Reiterating the firm commitment of his government to make Punjab a drug Free State, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Wednesday dedicated the new office of Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and launched Anti-Drug Helpline and WhatsApp Chatbot (9779100200).
Interacting with the media after inspecting the newly constructed office and launching the helpline, the Chief Minister said that Punjab Government has decided to rechristen the Apex State Level Drug Law Enforcement Unit as the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF), instead of the present designation of Special Task Force. He said that this cell will be functional on an independent floor at second Floor of Police Station Sohana, Sector-79 SAS Nagar adding that the building has been recently renovated at a cost of Rs 90 lakh. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that Anti-Drug Helpline and WhatsApp Chatbot (9779100200) option has been launched for successful fight against drugs.
The Chief Minister said that this helpline will provide ordinary citizens and drug addicts an opportunity to inform about the drug traffickers and ensure medical help for the addicts who intend to undergo de-addiction. He envisioned that this will help in curbing the drug trafficking at grass root level and identifying the big fishes involved in this heinous crime adding that the identity of the informer will be kept secret. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Task Force is not merely old wine in a new bottle but this new special force has been equipped with additional manpower, resources and technology to combat the menace of drugs effectively.
The Chief Minister said that the existing manpower of ANTF is being doubled from the present 400 to 861 adding that these new posts for ANTF will be created as part of the 10, 000 new posts coming up for the Police department. He said that the Punjab Government has provided Rs 12 crores in the current financial year 2024-25 for developing the newly established Intelligence and Technical Unit of ANTF into state of art agency by procurement of hi-tech software, hardware and upgradation of infrastructure and in order to improve the mobility of ANTF, 14 new Mahindra Scorpio vehicles will be provided. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a separate land of one acre will be provided to ANTF in Mohali for establishing its independent headquarters adding that Rs. 10 crores will be sanctioned to the ANTF from the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund (CADA Fund) for implementation of the EDP (Enforcement-De-Addiction-Prevention) Strategy of the State Government.
The Chief Minister further said that the Police have been solving the serious cases pertaining to law and order effectively. He said that zero tolerance policy has been adopted in such cases adding that immediate actions of Police in the Khanna desecration case and attack on NRI in Amritsar have been highly lauded by one and all. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the Police is effectively manning 532 kilometres of international border along with the state to protect the unity and integrity of the country.
The Chief Minister said that though the Police is combating new challenges in form drones and smuggling from across the border but Punjab Police is discharging its duty efficiently. He said that special law officers have been attached along with every Police Station to ensure that the drug cases sustain legal proceedings adding that since day one the state government has ensured that there is no political patronisation of the drug peddlers in the state so that this menace is wiped out from Punjab. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has launched a crackdown against menace of drugs by adopting a zero tolerance policy against it.
The Chief Minister said that many big fishes involved in drug peddling have been put behind the bars and FIRs have been launched against them adding that properties worth Rs 173 crore belonging to 379 drug smugglers have been confiscated and more are in process. He said that it is heartening to see that the desired results are being produced and youth are becoming an active partner in social-economic progress of the state adding that it is on record that educational institutions in the state are witnessing a huge surge in admissions by the youth. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that due to pro-people policies of the state government, a reverse trend in migration of youth to abroad is being witnessed in the state.
The Chief Minister said that as the maiden initiative the state government has transferred a number of police officials at the lowest ebb of the hierarchy who have been squatting on their posts since long. He said that a large number of transfers have been made across the divisions adding that rotation of the postings of the cops is going on to break this nexus. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the move is aimed to check the smuggling of drugs in the state as he had received reports that the officers at lowest level have been involved with drug peddlers.
The Chief Minister said that the state government will give special grants to the drug free villages across Punjab. He envisioned that these grants will be used for the promotion of sports and sporting infrastructure in villages that will help in channelizing the unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that already the players from state have brought laurels for the country in events like Olympics and the day is not far when Punjabi youth will bag more medals.
The Chief Minister said that the state government has so far handed over appointment letters to more than 44, 667 youth in various departments. He said that this recruitment has been purely done on merit by adopting a completely transparent process. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this has increased the faith of youth in working for the state government due to which they have shunned the idea of moving abroad and are preparing for government jobs here.
Replying to a query, the Chief Minister said that the Union government and NHAI should stop treating the fertile land of Punjab with other states. He said that there is no law and order problem in the state over land acquisition but the matter is just of settlement of rate. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that he had already apprised the Union government about the entire ground reality and the land acquisition is going on smoothly in the state.
On another query, the Chief Minister asked the BJP to tame its controversial MPs like Kangana Ranuat who are vitiating the atmosphere of the country by their venomous statements. He said that rather than concentrating on the welfare of people of Mandi segment, which has elected Kangana, she is repeatedly hurting the sentiments of Punjabis through her baseless statements. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that BJP should control such leaders as merely issuing the statement that these are personal views of the MPs doesn’t absolve the saffron party from its responsibility.