Chandigarh, May 1: To ensure fair, transparent and inducement-free Lok Sabha Elections in the state, the Punjab Police on Wednesday conducted a massive state-level Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) at identified drug hotspots and vulnerable areas in all the 28 Police districts of the state.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav from 8am to 11am simultaneously across the state.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that CPs/SSPs were told to plan this operation meticulously by identifying drug Hotspots— the points of sale of drugs and psychotropic substances in their respective districts or certain areas which have become shelter/safe haven for drug peddlers, to carry out this operation amid massive deployment of the police force under the supervision of an SP rank officer.
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– OVER 500 POLICE TEAMS CONDUCTED CASO AT 246 IDENTIFIED DRUG HOTSPOTS IN PUNJAB: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA
He said that CPs/SSPs were also directed to check all those booked under NDPS cases and are on bail/have been acquitted. “These kinds of CASOs at a mass-scale level not only help infuse fear among anti-social elements but also boost public confidence and increase the presence of the cops in the field,” he said.
The Special DGP said that over 500 Police teams, comprising over 3000 police personnel, have cordoned off as many as 246 drug hotspots and as many as 864 persons— booked under NDPS cases and are on bail/have been acquitted— were checked.
During the operation, the Police registered 31 first information reports (FIRs) after arresting 22 persons, besides, apprehending one Proclaimed Offender (PO), he said.
Sharing outcomes, Spl DGP Arpit Shukla said that Police teams have recovered 2.95-Kg Heroin, ₹36000 drug money, 100 grams opium, 21.5kg poppy husk and a huge quantity of lahan, illicit and licit liquor, besides, seizing two pistols along with ammunition.
Meanwhile, the operation was conducted after identifying drug hotspots through data analysis by district police forces.