STF tightens noose on cops helping drug smugglers

DIRECTIVES MANDATE INVESTIGATING OFFICER TO MENTION NAME OF COPS THAT SURFACE DURING INVESTIGATION IN THE CASE DIARY

SBS NAGAR: Additional director general of police (ADGP) Harpreet Singh Sidhu led special task force (STF), which was constituted by the state government to check drug menace, has issued directives to all senior superintendent of police (SSPS), commissioner of police, assistant inspector general (AIG’S) of STF and Railways to act against the cops helping smugglers.

STF mandated the respective chiefs to ask questions to an accused booked under the NDPS Act whether he/she has any relation with police official or was provided any help or money for selling drugs. “If any official’s connivance surfaces during the questioning (of the accused) then the investigating officer and gazetted officer (GO) must ensure that it is mentioned in the case dairy,” read an STF letter. It further stated that if the officials (Investigating officer and GO) probing a drug case do not mention cops name that had come up during questioning of the accused in their case dairy , then action will be taken against them.

“If name of a cop surfaces during the questioning of the drug accused, then they will be quizzed by GO rank official and every level of questioning will be shared with the STF,” the letter added. STF chief Harpreet Singh Sidhu could not be contacted while inspector general of police, STF (admin), Balkar Singh Sidhu said that he is on leave.