Panchkula police show the way, honour reformed addicts

In a novel way to tackle the growing drug menace, the Panchkula police have launched a special programme to honour the addicts who will shun drugs and inspire others to return to the mainstream society.

“Those who quit drugs and inspire others will be honoured,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Srishti Gupta while talking to The Tribune.

She said the police have not only intensified the offensive against drug traffickers but have also been helping people overcome drug addiction.

The 31-year-old engineer-turned-cop disclosed that the Panchkula Commissionerate Police had launched the “Nasha aur hinsa mukt mera gaon meri shaan” campaign for building a drug and violence-free society.

“We haven’t limited ourselves to arrests and seizures alone. Under the ‘drug and violence-free my village, my pride’ drive, major efforts are being made to raise awareness across communities against drug abuse and smuggling,” she said.

Under this drive, the police officials visited 472 localities, including villages, colonies and urban areas, and interacted with 18,880 residents.

“This led to the identification of 2,060 drug addicts, of whom 1,905 were given counselling and medical assistance for rehabilitation. The serious cases were admitted to the de-addiction centres for further treatment,” the DCP divulged.

The police have constituted three special teams to organise regular medical camps with the help of the Health Department to identify and treat addicts across the district.

Awareness programmes were also held in schools, colleges and social institutions to protect the youth from addiction and spread the message of creating a drug-free society.

On International Day Against Drug Abuse, the DCP honoured the individuals who had helped the police in this mission, especially those who quit drugs and are now helping others to do the same. These individuals were symbolically gifted plants for their positive contribution.

“Our work doesn’t stop with arrests. Under the campaign, three dedicated teams have been visiting various regions, identifying drug addicts, and helping them recover through counselling and rehabilitation,” Srishti revealed, while stating that this is not just a campaign but it has become a people’s movement, built on collective effort and commitment to change society.

“Drugs don’t just destroy the body, they hollow out the soul. The Panchkula police are not just cracking down on traffickers; we’re offering people a new life and a new hope. In the past six months, our force has doubled the number of arrests compared to last year and made record-breaking drug recoveries,” said the 2021-batch Haryana-cadre IPS officer.

Meanwhile, the police have arrested 144 drug smugglers with a huge cache of contraband in 73 cases registered under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the first six months of this year.

“Our mission is to make Panchkula a model drug-free district with an inspired society,” she said.

Recently, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishan Bedi felicitated the Panchkula Police at a state-level ceremony, while the Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapoor called the force as the best performing team.

A comparison of data from the first six months of 2025 and 2024 clearly shows a major shift in the fight against drugs.

Dealing a strong blow to drug traffickers, the cops recently demolished the property of a notorious woman drug smuggler, Geeta, at Bagwala village in the district. She was facing three cases of drug smuggling at the Kalka police station.

According to official data, 144 drug smugglers were arrested with contraband in 72 NDPS cases between January and June this year whereas only 73 arrests were made in 56 NDPS cases registered in Panchkula during the corresponding period last year.

While the commercial quantity cases rose from five in 2024 to nine in 2025, the intermediate quantity cases went up from 39 last year to 56 this year.

The arrests of interstate traffickers jumped 206% from 33 in 2024 to 101 in 2025 while the cases involving two or more smugglers also increased from 24 in 2024 to 44 this year.

The seizure of narcotics also increased significantly with heroin recovery going up from 407 grams in 2024 to 992 grams in 2025, charas 3 kg to 14 kg, opium 190 grams to 8.56 kg, poppy husk from 33 kg to 100 kg, and the seizure of intoxicating tablets/capsules rose from 12,107 in 2024 to 15,560 in 2025.

JUST A BEGINNING, SAYS CP KABIRAJ

“This is just a beginning. We will soon launch more intensive campaigns, hold more medical camps and take the anti-drug message to every village and every street. Our mission is clear — to make Panchkula a model district for a drug-free and inspired society," said Sibash Kabiraj, Commissioner of Police, Panchkula

HELPLINE

The public can report drug-related information to the MANAS helpline 1933, or police’s drug info helpline: 7087081100/ 7087081048.

Rs 1.53-CRORE DRUGS DESTROYED

The Panchkula Commissionerate Police have destroyed drugs worth Rs 1.53 crore, which were recovered in 48 NDPS cases registered during the recent past.

Chandigarh