Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday defended his decision to conduct dope tests on government employees and police personnel, saying such tests were held in the Army too.
“The current situation in the State, where addicts are resorting to using concoctions due to scarcity and high price of drugs, has warranted such harsh steps,” he said, while taking to journalists after the passing-out parade at the Police Recruit Training Centre in Hoshiarpur.
‘Supply lines choked’
“Mounting pressure on drug smugglers and the mafia has choked the supply lines and is forcing addicts to go for concoctions, which are resulting in deaths,” said the Chief Minister.
Capt. Amarinder said that his proposal for giving death penalty to first-time drug smugglers and peddlers was also aimed at eliminating the drug menace.
“The increase in tip-offs received by the police and the large number of youth coming to drug treatment and rehabilitation centres shows that the people are worried about the deaths being caused by the use of concoctions. They are actively joining the government’s campaign against drugs,” he said.
SIT probe
On allegations of involvement of former Akali Dal Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a drugs case, the Chief Minister said that the SIT formed to probe the matter had submitted its report to the court.