Pb proposes death for drug peddlers

In the backdrop of a spate of deaths due to drug overdose in the state, Punjab cabinet on Monday decided to recommend to the Centre death penalty for drug peddlers and smugglers.

The move was aimed to act as a deterrent to the heinous crime, which was "destroying" the lives of youth in Punjab and many other places.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, which resolved to send a formal recommendation soon to the Union Government to this effect, according to an official spokesperson.

The Chief Minister had called for the meeting to discuss the issue, particularly in the context of the recent spate of deaths due to alleged drug overdose and adulterated drugs in the state.

Opposition parties including AAP and SAD have been criticising the 15-month old Capt Amarinder Singh led Congress government for allegedly failing to contain drug menace in the state despite promising before assembly polls wiping out drugs within four weeks.

There was a widespread outrage over the deaths of youths in several parts of Punjab because of drug overdose and a campaign against drugs called 'Black week against Chitta' was being observed by some activists in the state starting from July 1 in the wake of drug abuse.

The Cabinet also decided to constitute a special working group under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary (Home) N S Kalsi to review and monitor, on a day-to-day basis, the action being taken to check and control drug abuse.

The special working group constituted to review and update the government strategy against drugs will have ACS (Health), DGP (Law & Order), DGP (Intelligence) and ADGP (STF) as members, the spokesperson said after the meeting.