Guj mulls capital punishment in new anti-drug law

Gandhinagar: To come down harder on drug traffickers, sellers and users, Gujarat govt is mulling introducing a new law that will include longer and harsher punishments, including capital punishment in exceptional cases. The maximum jail term under the current law is upto five years. It also plans setting up special courts and assigning more powers to police to effectively deal with drug-related crimes.The home department is currently studying laws in countries like Singapore and Japan, which have among the harshest anti-drug laws in the world. A Bill, expected to be proposed probably during the budget session, will be a comprehensive document covering all aspects, from trafficking to consumption, senior govt officials said.
Officials said that while the govt has been proactively working to curb drug trafficking and consumption, a significant increase has been witnessed in recent years, which the new law is aimed at. Gujarat's coastal areas are being used as transit points for international and domestic drug markets. The govt has successfully thwarted narcotics smuggling attempts and raided several factories manufacturing illegal drugs. Massive quantities of contraband worth thousands of crores have been seized in these operations. Nipping the problem at the bud effectively can prevent the younger generation from addiction, they said, adding that the new law will also focus on discouraging youngsters from drug use and will include provisions supporting deaddiction and rehabilitation.
Calling it a welcome move, sources said govt studying best practices of other countries to incorporate them into the new law is a clear indication of its commitment to tackle the issue head-on. A source added, "The fight against drugs is not just the responsibility of the govt, but also of society as a whole. Parents, teachers and community leaders need to come together to create awareness and provide support to those struggling with addiction. It is essential that all stakeholders work together to create a drug-free society and provide a better future for the younger generation."