In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, states should work towards a drug-free India by 2047 – a robust surveillance system should be established using technology – Union Home Minister Amit Shah
June 26th Bharat News NATIONAL
(Five-Star Rated News Service by Google)
AMARAVATI – Raja Pentapati- Bureau Chief
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has called on everyone to work towards the goal of achieving a drug-free India by 2047. On Friday, he held a video conference from Delhi with Chief Secretaries of various states, senior police officers, officers of the Narcotics Control Bureau and other departments to discuss ‘narco-coordination’.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister said that in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call, states should work towards a drug-free India by 2047 and set up a robust surveillance system using technology.
He stressed the need to take strict action with a “zero-tolerance” attitude against those involved in the supply and sale of drugs. He directed the officers to identify drug hotspots, maintain strict vigil, arrest the main culprits and ensure their timely punishment.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah clarified that the states should formulate a specific action plan and further strengthen community policing. He also asked the states to create widespread awareness among the people about the ill effects of drug use, supply and sale.
Speaking through video conference from the Chief Secretary’s camp office in Vijayawada, Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad said that the special anti-narcotics unit of the state of Andhra Pradesh, Eagle (Elite Anti-Narcotics Group for Law Enforcement), is working effectively.
He said that while the Andhra-Odisha border region was once notorious for cannabis cultivation, Andhra Pradesh has now become a benchmark at the national level in drug control.
He explained that heavy-duty checks are being conducted thrice a week in each district to check inter-state drug trafficking through the railway network; local police, GRP, RPF, Eagle units and dog squads are being jointly deployed in these operations.
He further stated that EAGLE operates a dedicated, secure data centre at its Mangalagiri headquarters, which acts as a centralised surveillance centre for the state’s anti-narcotics system.
Eagle Chief IGP A.K. Ravi Krishna, Eagle SP (Operations) K.M. Maheshwara Raju, Visakhapatnam NCB SP J.D. Pankaj, NCB DSP Kiran and others participated in the video conference.
. Swacha Andhra Pradesh
