Drug STF pulls up SSPS, commissioners over ‘lapses’ in NDPS Act enforcement
GUIDELINES NOT BEING FOLLOWED
CHANDIGARH : Taking a strong exception to what it called “glaring lapses in the enforcement” of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in Punjab, the special task force (STF) on drugs formed by the state government has pulled up the heads of district police and commissionerates.
In a letter shot off to the senior superintendents of police (SSPS) and the commissioners of police on December 14, director general of police (DGP-STF) Mohammad Mustafa said a lack of commitment and will was observed in the implementation of the act at their level.
“This office has circulated a 22-point pro forma regarding various aspects of implementation of the NDPS Act. However, an analysis of the information received from all the districts/ commissionerates from January 1 to October 31, 2018, has brought forth glaring lapses and lacunae in the working of the field units,” reads the letter, a copy of which is with HT.
Besides passing directions to ensure compliance of the instructions, Mustafa’s strongly-worded letter has cited at least fifteen communications earlier sent by the task force between April 19, 2017 and November 26, 2018, on the same issue.
“Comprehensive and exhaustive guidelines were sent to your offices repeatedly to enforce the NDPS Act with a focused and strategic approach, but the required commitment is missing,” reads the letter.
THE PRO FORMA
The pro forma that STF has sent to the district/commissionerate heads requires the field units to complete pending investigation in drug cases at the earliest and fix responsibility of police officials committing lapses in investigation.
“We have repeatedly instructed the district police not to depute a local assistant subinspector (Asi)-rank official in drug cases. But this practice is still common and many accused are acquitted eventually,” said an Ig-rank STF member.
Another grudge of the task force is drug accused getting ‘default bail’ under Section 167 (2) of the Code of Criminal Procedure Fixing responsibility of officials for lapses in bail procedure due to delay in challans.
Registering cases against suppliers in drug-related deaths and send samples for chemical examination. Arresting proclaimed offenders (POS) and parole jumpers in drug cases. Deputing responsible police officials during court hearings to ensure bails are not granted in ‘commercial quantity’ cases.
Sending cases to competent authority for freeze properties of drug traffickers.
Preparing extradition cases of wanted accused living abroad.
(CRPC). A default bail is granted if police are not able to file charge-sheet in court within 90 days of the arrest an accused.
“When the investigating officers collude with the accused, they don’t file chargesheet within time. This practice has also not been checked properly after repeated instructions. Even in cases of accused carrying drugs for sale, they are getting bail easily,” reads the letter to the field police.