No big fish to catch in drug trade: DGP
IRONY CM had said cops not after small peddlers but big fish
Even though ruling Congress MLAs made a strong pitch in the assembly to catch “big fish” in the illicit drug trade in Punjab, the state’s police chief says there exist none.
“It is wrong to say that Punjab police have failed to catch the big fish… in fact there aren’t any,” said director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora.
“I personally spoke to the central agencies, Union ministry of home affairs and other anti-narcotics agencies, and sought information in this regard, that whether anyone big is involved in drug trade in Punjab. They also don’t have any information,” he added, “For the police, anyone involved in selling drugs is a big fish.” He was replying to a reporter’s question during a visit to Patiala.
While forming a special task force (STF) against drugs, chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh had stated that they were not after the small drug peddlers but after the big fish.
Arora, however, lauded the role of the STF and said that Punjab’s war on drugs has been a “huge success”. Not only has the supply chain of drugs been demolished, but properties worth Rs 225 crore are attached with cases, he added.
Replying to questions related to no headway in high-profile murder cases, including those of religious leaders, the DGP said the police are working in tandem with central agencies. “These seem to be an act of a newly formed group, thus the culprits are still eluding the police. However, the cases will be solved.”