HARYANA STATE NARCOTICS CONTROL BUREAU PIONEERING VILLAGE-BASED DATABASE OF DRUG TRAFFICKERS-CHIEF SECRETARY
Face2News/Chandigarh
Haryana Chief Secretary, Mr. Sanjeev Kaushal, today said that the state government has initiated the establishment of four additional NDPS fast-track courts, in addition to the six already notified and one already operational. These courts will significantly expedite the resolution of NDPS cases within the state, thereby enhancing the efficiency of legal proceedings.
Furthermore, the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau has used cutting-edge technology to create a comprehensive database of drug traffickers in every village in the state”. This innovative initiative facilitates the tracking and effective mitigation of drug trafficking activities, further bolstering the bureau's efforts in curbing drug-related offenses.
After virtually attending the 6th Apex Committee of NCORD meeting under the Chairmanship of Union Home Secretary, Mr. Kaushal said that the State Government has established an Advisory Board to strengthen the institutional ecosystem for combating drug abuse.
Additionally, steps have been taken to enhance forensic capabilities to meet emerging challenges. These measures include the upgrade of the FSL Haryana NDPS Division and the establishment of NDPS Divisions at all four Regional Forensic Labs (Rohtak, Gurugram, Hisar, and Panchkula). Three of these RFSLs already have functional NDPS Divisions, and the fourth division will be operational at the newly sanctioned station in Panchkula.
The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau has prepared and circulated a detailed SOP regarding financial investigations of drug crimes. The Bureau has also prepared a database of property seized and forfeited under the provisions of Chapter VA of the NDPS Act, 1985, starting from the year 2000, for monitoring and analysis.
(SUBHEAD)Mr. Kaushal said that to facilitate close coordination, monitoring, and information sharing among the northern states and UTs of Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Chandigarh, an “Inter-state Drug Secretariat” has been established at Panchkula, Haryana.
The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau has developed and is using a dedicated software called HAWK for profiling drug traffickers accused in NDPS crimes in Haryana. This software is equipped with various data analytics features and has been in use since 2021. It maintains a detailed profile of each and every accused person involved in drug trafficking, including all “connections”, he added.
He said that Haryana has already established a five-tier mechanism through the State Action Plan prepared and being implemented by the Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau. In this five-tier mechanism, information is to be collected from the local level level at villages and wards through Mission teams. For this purpose, an Android mobile application called “PRAYAAS” has been developed and launched. The data fed at various levels of the mission teams is hosted on the HSNCB core application software HAWK.
For training and capacity building, the HSNCB has organized various courses and workshops, with 35 courses conducted and 1,175 participants trained in the period 2020-2023. These courses cover critical topics such as investigation under the NDPS Act, property attachment, and State Action Plans, he added.
Furthermore, Mr. Kaushal said that the Bureau is empowering the State Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to effectively tackle narcotics-related issues. The ANTF was established by the Haryana Government, and its mandate, powers, and functions are well-defined. The HSNCB has been designated as the nodal agency for coordinating efforts among various departments and NCORD.
Mr. Kaushal said that HSNCB is actively working on sensitizing states and UTs about the notification of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and providing feedback reports on ground surveys and destruction operations. Although no incidents have been reported in Haryana regarding feedback via satellite imagery generated by ADRN and BISAG-N, the state remains vigilant.
Mr. Kaushal said that the HSNCB is actively cooperating with forensic experts, consultants, and agencies like ED & FIU for financial investigations of drug crimes as needed. Mass awareness programs are an integral part of the HSNCB's efforts, with over 8,86,507 individuals participating in programs organized by the Bureau.
The Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau remains resolute in its mission to combat drug abuse, strengthen the institutional ecosystem, and raise awareness among the public. With these concerted efforts, the Bureau aims to create a drug-free and safer environment for the people of Haryana.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Mr. T.V.S.N Prasad, Director General of Police, Mr. Shatrujeet Kapur, ADGP, Mr. O.P.Singh and other senior officers of police Department also attended the meeting.
000000
