JAMMU, FEBRUARY 03: The 16th Union Territory-level meeting of the Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) was today chaired by the Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, to comprehensively review enforcement, prosecution, treatment, and rehabilitation measures aimed at combating the drug menace, and to chart out a more stringent, coordinated, and result-oriented strategy across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the Director General of Police, all concerned Administrative Secretaries, the Director General of Prosecution, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu and other senior civil and police officers.
The Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, along with Deputy Commissioners and District SSPs, participated through video conferencing.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Secretary unequivocally directed that the administration must adopt an extremely stringent approach towards drug traffickers and peddlers, ensuring that offenders do not derive any benefit from government systems or facilities.
He ordered initiation of deterrent measures strictly as per rules in force including cancellation of contractor cards, passports, driving licences, and registration certificates (RCs) of vehicles belonging to persons involved in drug-related offences.
Emphasising a multi-pronged strategy, the Chief Secretary outlined five critical pillars of action, starting with intensive Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaigns for demand reduction, highlighting legal consequences as well as the health and social impacts of drug abuse.
He stressed the need for counselling services through trained counsellors at the grassroots level, backed by strong enforcement measures including cancellation of licences and strict action under relevant laws. He further underscored the importance of accessible and effective treatment services, ensuring availability of equipment, medicines, and trained manpower close to people’s doorsteps.
The Chief Secretary called for a comprehensive rehabilitation frame work from Oral Substitution Therapy (OST) to reintegration of recovered individuals into society through strong inter-departmental coordination.
He also stressed leveraging community participation and technology as force multipliers in the fight against drugs. Expressing concern over the low rate of conversion of FIRs into convictions in commercial quantity NDPS cases, the Chief Secretary noted large pendency at the prosecution stage, with the majority of cases awaiting witness examination. Directions were issued to utilise video conferencing facilities for expeditious trials, while the Law Department was tasked to examine delays at various stages of prosecution and identify systemic bottlenecks.
Observations of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regarding investigation into forward and backward linkages were also directed to be strictly focused upon in Jammu and Kashmir.
The status of old NDPS cases particularly those exceeding five years were reviewed, with several offenders having been declared proclaimed offenders.
The Chief Secretary took serious note of instances of re-examination of NDPS samples, where two out of six samples tested positive upon re-testing, and directed formulation of a Standard Operating Procedure to end this practice.
He ordered scrutiny of original FSL examination reports and initiation of strict action if any foul play is detected. On the regulatory front, directions were issued to frame a more stringent and effective regulatory framework for drug de-addiction centres.
Pharmacies found violating drug control norms were ordered to face immediate cancellation of licences without any leniency. The Chief Secretary emphasised the use of satellite imagery for detection of illicit cultivation, including bhang, and directed immediate destruction of such crops along with stringent action against growers.
He further directed vigorous pursuit of Aadhaar-based monitoring of OST beneficiaries in coordination with the IT Department, including issuance of requisite notifications.
An AI-based assistance tool for Investigating Officers and Prosecutors, demonstrated by IGP Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti, was appreciated by the Chief Secretary.
The tool aids in framing of charges, legal vetting, investigation guidance, judgment analysis, and supervision under the NDPS Act and BNSS. Directions were issued for its wider rollout with technical support from BISAG-N to further enhance its effectiveness.
The Chief Secretary also directed establishment of Command Centres for real-time CCTV monitoring of identified hotspots and vulnerable areas. Stressing further training and optimal deployment, he ordered establishment of Drug De-addiction IPD facilities at all district hospitals.
Focus was laid on capacity building of Investigating Officers and extensive public awareness at village, panchayat, and ULB levels. The availability of essential medicines at health facilities was reviewed, with directions to consider inclusion of such drugs in the Essential Drug List and to develop standard treatment protocols.
Strict action was ordered against persons involved in drug peddling near schools and colleges, including immediate cancellation of passports, driving licences, and RCs, and consideration under PIT-NDPS provisions.
It was informed that 84 cases involving 127 persons have been registered in this category. Additionally, 5,709 IEC campaigns have been conducted across the UT, benefitting 4,32,931 participants.
Monitoring of OST beneficiaries and their rehabilitation was directed to be carried out through a dedicated portal. Drug testing of drivers has resulted in 10 positive cases, with recommendations for cancellation of driving licences and RCs. Further, 104 interstate vehicles involved in drug-related offences have been recommended for action to their respective States.
The Director General of Police, Nalin Prabhat, emphasised close monitoring of commonly used precursor chemicals, their legal usage, and quantities to prevent diversion for manufacturing of synthetic drugs.
The Principal Secretary, Home Department took this occasion to present a comprehensive action plan in pursuance of the Apex NCORD meeting held on 9th January under the chairmanship of the Union Home Minister.
The plan framed by the department covered forfeiture of property, tracing of money trails, action against synthetic drug laboratories, technology-based intelligence gathering, strengthening NCORD at the district level, streamlining of ANTF, hotspot mapping, courier surveillance, and monitoring of Schedule-H drugs and precursor substances.
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