Special drive launched in Himachal Pradesh to curb down menace of drugs

Shimla, July 25: To curb the menace of drugs and eliminated drug peddlers from the state, the Himachal Pradesh government on Tuesday launched a special drive involving various departments as well as people at the grassroots level and a state-level Special Task Force to nab peddlers.

 

The cabinet meeting headed by Himachal CM Jai Ram Thakur directed the Home Department officials to ensure regular coordination at the Director General of Police-level, inter-state meetings and joint police operations to check inter-state movement of drugs.

Under the special drive, officials of education, health, police, social justice and empowerment departments will be roped in, besides panchayats, mahila mandals, parents, students and teachers. The need to make amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act of 1985 to make it more stringent was also discussed in the high-level meeting.

The Chief Minister also directed for the promotion of alternative crops in areas where cannabis is cultivated. Earlier, in the month, the Himachal Pradesh and Punjab police jointly launched a special drive to crack down on drug smugglers in the Kangra district that borders Punjab.