Drug-linked police personnel dismissed as Maharashtra expands anti-narcotics drive: CM Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday said the state government has stepped up its fight against drugs and is taking strict action against anyone found involved in narcoticsrelated crimes including police personnel during the second day of the Maharashtra Monsoon Assembly Session at Vidhan Bhavan reported PTIReplying to a discussion during Question Hour in the state legislative assembly Fadnavis said Police officials found linked to drugrelated crimes have been dismissed not just suspended the chief minister told the HouseMajor breakthrough in Salim Dola caseFadnavis said one of the countrys biggest alleged drug masterminds Salim Dola has been arrested and brought back to India after a Red Corner Notice was issued against himAccording to information gathered by authorities Dola had established MD drug manufacturing units in Maharashtra Madhya Pradesh Karnataka and Telangana He is believed to have produced and sold nearly 4000 kilograms of the synthetic drug through his networkMost of the network has now been dismantled and this is a major success in the fight against drugs Fadnavis said reported PTIAntidrug units to be expandedThe chief minister informed the House that seven antidrug units are currently functioning in the state These units will be gradually decentralised and expanded to strengthen action at the local levelHe also announced that special antinarcotics squads will be set up in every police station with efforts underway to deploy capable officers in these teamsTo encourage officers working against drug trafficking the government is considering introducing incentives similar to those provided in anticorruption and antiNaxal operationsThe best officers will have to fight this battle and we are creating a system of incentives to encourage them he said reported the news agencyAwareness campaign in schools and collegesFadnavis said the government will launch a largescale awareness campaign covering around 3000 schools and colleges across Maharashtra The initiative aims to educate students about the dangers of drug abuse and help them understand ways to overcome addiction reported the news agencyHe added that he personally reviews narcoticsrelated matters every day to monitor the states antidrug effortsInformant rewards and stricter enforcementThe government is also working on a mechanism to reward informants who provide information about drugrelated activities while ensuring their identities remain protected as per the news agencyOn concerns about the glorification of drugs in films Fadnavis said existing legal provisions allow authorities to take action and complaints can be filed in cases of violationsDeaddiction centres and legal reformsThe chief minister said the public health and social justice departments have been directed to establish deaddiction centres in every district to help people recover from substance abuseHe also informed the House that the Centre has started the process of amending the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act Maharashtra has already submitted its suggestions to the Union government regarding the proposed changes reported the news agencyWith stricter enforcement expanded antidrug units awareness campaigns and rehabilitation measures the state government aims to strengthen its fight against the growing drug menaceWith PTI Inputs