DM orders GIS mapping of drug hotspots, CCTV in hostels and coaching centres; all 711 student samples test negative
Dehradun: Dehradun police have registered 151 narcotics cases and sent 170 accused to jail so far this year, even as a physical verification of the district’s de-addiction centres found 23 of them closed and irregularities at 15 more, officials told a district-level review meeting on Friday.
BODY (supporting facts, quotes, context — in descending order of importance):
The figures were placed before the district-level Narcotics Coordination Committee (NCORD), chaired by District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Chauhan, who directed enforcement agencies to move from routine policing to targeted action against the drug trade.
The DM directed the police department to identify sensitive and hotspot areas across the district by running a GIS analysis of past crime data, and to keep a close watch on everything from tea and tobacco carts to medical stores and slum settlements.
Expressing concern over the growing prevalence of e-drugs and chemical drugs, he said these pose a major threat to society and to the younger generation. He directed the ANTF, STF, police, NCB and the Drugs Department to take joint action to dismantle the supply chain.
On the de-addiction centres, officials reported that 84 registered and two unregistered facilities had been identified in the district. Reports on 55 centres, along with observations, have been forwarded to the State Mental Health Authority. The DM directed all SDMs to inspect the centres regularly and ensure they operate within their sanctioned capacity and prescribed standards, stating that any centre found violating the norms should be sealed immediately.
He also directed the Chief Medical Officer to send a proposal to the state government for a 30-bed de-addiction and rehabilitation centre at Selaqui. The Social Welfare Department told the meeting that the government centre at Raiwala currently runs with 15 beds, and approval has been received to expand it to 30.
Under a drug-testing drive conducted in higher educational institutions, samples were collected from 711 suspected students. All reports came back negative, officials said.
To keep young people away from drugs, the DM directed that subjects related to anti-drug awareness, cyber crime and financial crime be taught in schools and higher educational institutions in addition to the regular curriculum. He called for increased CCTV surveillance in hostels, paying guest accommodations, coaching institutes and other sensitive locations, and for wide publicity of the anti-drug helpline number 1933.
The Drugs Inspector said CCTV cameras have been made mandatory at all medical stores and the sale of medicines in the absence of a pharmacist has been prohibited. The police department said complaints received on the helpline are being resolved promptly. The DM also called for strict action against those smoking in public places.
The DM said the campaign against drugs is not merely a law-and-order matter but a commitment to protecting the future of the youth and the happiness of families, and directed all departments to ensure coordinated, result-oriented action.
The meeting was attended by Additional District Magistrate (Administration) Smrit Parmar, Chief Medical Officer Dr. M.K. Sharma, Dr. Deepa Mehra Rawat of the Higher Education Department, Circle Officer of Police Jagdish Pant, District Social Welfare Officer Deepankar Ghildiyal, Drugs Inspector Vinod Jaguri, ARTO Ratnakar Singh, ACF Abhishek Maithani, Ranveer Singh Chauhan of the IB, Shiv Prasad Vyas of the District Excise Department and the District Education Officer, along with other members who joined virtually.
