RTI reply: 463 cases filed under NDPS, convictions in 105 cases

Merely 105 convictions out of 463 cases of drug peddling were reported in a little more than two years. (Representational Image)

Merely 105 convictions out of 463 cases of drug peddling registered under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, were reported in the last more than two years by Chandigarh Police, a reply to RTI application, filed by Chandigarh Newsline, reveals. Accused drug peddlers in 19 cases out of 463 were acquitted and investigation in a total of 189 cases is still pending with various investigation agencies. In 150 cases of drug peddling and smuggling, the police have submitted chargesheets in relevant courts. The RTI application sought information about FIRs registered under the NDPS Act between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2017.

A total of 163 FIRs out of 463 were registered by two independent wings of the Chandigarh Police: operations cell and crime branch. The operations cell registered 58 cases and crime branch registered 105 cases of drug peddling between January 1, 2015, and August 31, 2017. These FIRs were registered at various police stations. In 2015-16, a total of 215 FIRs were registered and about 248 FIRs were registered in 2016-August 2017.

The statistics provided by Chandigarh Police show that a majority of the FIRs, 68, out of a total of 463, were registered at the Sector 39 police station. The minimum FIRs, seven, out of 463 were registered at the Sector 3 police station. Other police stations, which witnessed the largest drug peddling cases, include Maloya police station (50 FIRs), Sector 36 police station (54), Sector 34 police station (46) and Sector 31 police station (33).

In Manimajra, a total of 58 FIRs were registered; 19 accused were convicted and four acquitted. At the Sector 26 police station, a total of 22 FIRs were registered and seven accused were convicted. At the Sector 31 police station, a total of 33 FIRs were registered and one accused was convicted and another acquitted. The remaining cases are under trial and under investigation. At the Sector 11 police station, a total of 38 FIRs were registered and eight accused were convicted and five acquitted. At the Maloya police station, a total of 50 FIRs were registered and three accused were convicted and one acquitted.