Punjab Guv announces cash prize for state's drug-free villages

Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit on July 24 announced cash prizes for drug-free villages in his state even as he stressed on taking strict action against drug smugglers and peddlers.

He further said that the entire border area will be covered with the anti-drone system within a year.

Purohit is on a visit to the border districts of Punjab. A day earlier, he had visited Gurdaspur and Pathankot districts and interacted with members of the village defense committees.

On July 24, after visiting the border areas in Amritsar, Purohit lauded the efforts of the state police and the Border Security Force in seizing huge quantities of narcotics. He also expressed concern over the smuggling of drugs and weapons from across the border through drones and emphasized the need to remain alert.

Talking to reporters here, Purohit said a cash prize of ₹3 lakh, ₹2 lakh and ₹1 lakh will be given to the top three drug-free villages in each district as incentives, with a senior police official adding that anyone who helps capturing drones coming from across the border will be given a reward of ₹1 lakh.

Praising the efforts of the state police force towards checking the problem of drugs, Governor Purohit said the police recently seized drug smugglers' properties worth Rs 28 crore and 140 kg of narcotics in one district.

We have instructed that the property of an accused must be seized soon after he is convicted, he said.

He further said the entire border area will be covered with the anti-drone system within a year.

"We have to save our young generation from drugs. School principals talk about the drug problem. I read in newspapers that women are holding an agitation against the menace," he said, pointing towards the enormity of the drug problem in Punjab.

Replying to a question on coordination between him and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Purohit in a lighter vein said, "He remains too busy. The CM is now too busy. I feel that they too may not be getting time."

The governor and Chief Minister Mann had been at loggerheads over various issues in the past.

Referring to six border districts — Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Ferozepur, Tarn Taran and Fazilka — Purohit said these are important districts from the security point of view as drugs and weapons are pushed by smugglers from across the border into these areas.

"They (these districts) need to be secured and for this, there was a need for coordination in all security agencies," he said.

Purohit also lauded "full coordination" between the central agencies, including the BSF, Army and the Punjab Police in their efforts in checking smuggling of drugs.

He also highlighted the need for people's participation, especially in the border areas, to combat the menace of drugs. "People's participation is a must and they need to be alert," he said.

"Pakistan cannot fight directly, so they are adopting this strategy. They also send weapons along with drugs. We all have to remain alert to their designs," the governor said.

(PTI)