Bhubaneswar: The state government will launch a special anti-drug campaign September 1, in a bid to curb the consumption, smuggling and sale of illegal drugs and intoxicants.
This was revealed at a high-level meeting chaired by state Law and Excise Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan at Lok Seva Bhavan Friday. Officials from the Police Administration, Excise department, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), and Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) participated in the strategy session, according to sources.
Key actions discussed during the meeting include ‘Operation Prahar’ by the Special Task Force (STF) targeting professional criminals, enforcement of prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (IT-NDPS Act) and CrPC 110 (BNS Section-129) to apprehend habitual offenders, establishment of model drug control units at district levels, intensification of raids in educational institutions, especially in Bhubaneswar, inter-departmental coordination using technology and strategic planning.
Harichandan stressed the urgency of the campaign, noting a rise in crimes linked to drug abuse. Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja assured full administrative support to the initiative. Senior officials, including Principal Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, IG-CID-CB Sarthak Sarangi, Excise Commissioner P Anvesha Reddy, NCB Regional Director Kuldeep Sharma, and ACP Narasingh Bhola also attended the meeting.