Punjab: CM Bhagwant Mann sets deadline of three months to make state drug-free

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday convened a meeting with senior officials and set a deadline of three months to make the state drugfreeTo give a renewed push to the states antidrug campaign Mann said the government will set up special courts that will ensure speedy trial in drug cases and conviction of those found guiltyThe meeting was held a day after a fivemember subcommittee of Cabinet ministers was formed to monitor the ongoing drive against drug menace in the stateThe subcommittee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and comprising state ministers Aman Arora Balbir Singh Laljit Singh Bhullar and Tarunpreet Singh Sond has been tasked with overseeing the measures taken by the police and the health department to tackle the menace of drugs and implement deaddiction programmesFridays meeting was attended by deputy commissioners and senior superintendents and commissioners of police from across the stateChief Secretary KAP Sinha Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav and the members of the subcommittee were also presentAccording to an official statement Mann said that preventive measures should be taken in schools and colleges so that the youth do not fall prey to the scourge of drugsThe education department will take necessary steps to introduce courses detailing the downside of drug addiction Mann saidThe chief minister also said the supply lines should be snapped and drugsellers should be put behind barsThe state government will ensure that the drugpeddlers and their families do not get any subsidy or free power and water so that it acts as a deterrent Mann saidExhorting that the war against drugs should be transformed into a mass campaign Mann asked the officials to plan bigger actionsThe chief minister also said that properties of those convicted in drugs cases should be seized with immediate effectCiting the example of a drug smuggler whose illegal property in Ludhiana district was razed on Thursday Mann announced the construction of a library on the Shamlat land common land in the village where the property stoodPunjab won the war against militancy in the past and now all the concerned officers in the state will play a major role in the war against drugs Mann saidHe also directed the police officers present at the meeting to ensure that no drugs are available in the state within the next three monthsThe role of the SSPs will be evaluated every month to see the progress of the antidrugs campaign in their respective districts the chief minister said adding that action will be taken against the nonperformersStrict action will also be initiated against police officers involved in consumption or promotion of drugs he saidSpeaking to reporters after the meeting Harpal Singh Cheema and Aman Arora said the state government has declared a war against drugs under its new campaign Yudh Nashia Virudh and the efforts are being intensified furtherWe are committed to making Punjab drugfree Cheema said adding that the government intends to send a clear warning to the drug smugglers either leave Punjab or give up illegal activitiesReferring to the recent demolition of illegallyconstructed houses of some drug peddlers across Ludhiana Patiala and Rupnagar districts Cheema said We may have to use the bulldozer or initiate other strict actionsOur ministers will be on the ground roundtheclock and a team of officers will monitor the action being taken to end the drug menace at the village tehsil and district levels Cheema saidArora blamed the previous Congress and Akali regimes for the state of affairs saying the drug menace spread its tentacles when they were in powerThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever