STF suggests special drug division to monitor addicts’ rehabilitation
Special task force chief Mohd Mustafa expresses displeasure with policing at the district level, saying little is being done to arrest proclaimed offenders; also flags police-smuggler nexus
CHANDIGARH : The Special Task Force (STF) of Punjab Police constituted to crack down on drugs has suggested formation of a 'special drug division’ in the health department for an efficient monitoring of de-addiction and rehabilitation programmes.
“We want a focused group to monitor the implementation of these campaigns. Like the STF is looking after drugs, the special division should keep tabs on the de-addiction related programmes, including monitoring of the supply of medicines to different centres. The CM’S office has given its in-principle nod for the division,” director general of police (DGP), STF, Mohd Mustafa said at a press briefing in Mohali on Tuesday.
‘POLICE-SMUGGLER NEXUS AT DIST LEVEL’
The STF chief came down heavily on the police functioning at district level for cops’, who he said were hand in glove with the criminals, sluggishness in catching the smugglers.
“The STF has identified 140 Proclaimed Offenders (POS) in commercial quantity cases and 42 in non-commercial quantity cases who have not been arrested by the SHOS concerned. A total of 332 absconders in commercial quantity cases and 1,412 in noncommercial quantity cases are yet to be arrested. It’s hard to believe that the police stations concerned are not aware of their whereabouts and I am sure most POS and absconders will be roaming in Punjab only. But police authorities at district level have not made efforts to nab them and cops’ complicity with the smugglers could be the only reason,” said Mustafa.
He expressed concern that the police at the district level are not even aware of the provisions of the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the IPC in the drug cases.
“Section 174-A of IPC provides punishment up to three years for parole jumpers. Section 229-A of the IPC is against bail jumpers and provides punishment up to a year. But we have identified 151 parole jumpers who have not been arrested or booked under the provisions available. Now, the STF has raised a few master trainers who will further provide training to the cops dealing with the NDPS cases,” said Mustafa.
The STF has identified 277 commercial quantity cases and 2,180 non-commercial quantity cases where forensic reports have been received but challan has not yet been submitted in courts, he said.
“Instructions have been issued to police in districts for completion of investigation and submission of challans. The STF has decided to take month-wise details of arrest of POS and absconders. Action will be taken against police officers who will not adhere to this,” said Mustafa. The STF has identified 685 commercial quantity cases where the accused have been acquitted.
“We have analysed all cases and astonishingly, we have concluded that most of these cases were not followed properly and the accused were freed by the courts. The STF will file appeals against acquittals in cases where it deems fit,” he said.
Police authorities at the district level have not made efforts to nab those wanted in drug cases and cops’ complicity with smugglers could be the only reason
MOHD MUSTAFA, STF chief
ALL PRAISE FOR HIS PREDECESSOR
Mustafa showered praises on previous STF chief Harpreet Sidhu, who was also present at the press conference.
“Let me put one thing on record; before I joined the STF, I had a vague idea about what the force was doing. After joining, I realised the tremendous work my predecessor (Sidhu) had done. He has laid extraordinary foundation for the STF on the prevention and de-addiction front. Had he been given a free hand on the enforcement part, Harpreet would have done much better,” said Mustafa.
Notably, Sidhu, who as STF head remained at loggerheads with the DGP’S office on various issues, was removed as the STF head in September 2018 and was posted as the special principal secretary to the CM.