Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh ordered strict action to be taken against government employees found to be involved in illegal activities related to the drug trade | Photo Credit: PTI
In a bid to curb the prevailing drug menace in the State, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Saturday (March 1, 2025) directed the Police Department to initiate a crackdown to dismantle the drug network, even as he announced that the service of government employees, if found involved in the drug trade, would be terminated.
The CM was presiding over a high-level meeting of senior officers of the police and other departments in Shimla. Emphasising that the drug network in the State would be dismantled on mission mode over the next six months, Mr. Sukhu instructed officials to take stringent action against drug peddlers, adding that no one involved illegal drug trade should be spared.
The Chief Minister also ordered strict action to be taken against government employees found to be involved in illegal activities related to the drug trade. “Government employees against whom concrete evidence of drug smuggling has been found will be terminated from their service,” he said.
Stating that the Congress government had adopted a zero tolerance policy against the drug menace, he said that the properties of drug peddlers and their associates would be attached, and directed the Police Department to investigate the bank accounts of suspects. He said that the Anti Narcotics Task Force would be strengthened and, additionally, a Special Task Force headed by a senior police officer would also be notified.
The Chief Minister said that he would personally monitor the anti-drug campaign on a regular basis, and directed the police to map drug peddlers and victims up to the panchayat level, and submit their report by March 15.
Mr. Sukhu issued directions to enhance vigilance on pharmaceuticals companies. “Licenses of companies found to be involved in the illegal sale of psychotropic drugs will be cancelled. FIRs (First Information Reports) would be registered against such companies, and renewal of their licenses will not be allowed,” he said.
The State government, he said, would introduce the Himachal Pradesh Anti Drug Act in the upcoming Budget session of the State Assembly, which would will clearly differentiate between the victims and the drug peddlers.
In neighbouring Punjab, talking to media persons, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government had launched a decisive war against drugs in Punjab, which aimed to break the supply line of drugs.
