Speed post / Email
To,
The Principal Secretary to The Hon’ble
Prime Minister of India,
The Prime Minister’s Office,
South Block
New Delhi 110001
Subject:
DRUG CRISIS IN INDIA; Need for the intervention of the Hon’ble PM of India
Reference your address to the nation in
December 2015, through ‘Man Kee Baat’ about the ‘Drug Crisis’ in India.
Sir,
A- My background
i-
My name is Shashi Kant, I.P.S. (retd.), a former police officer of
the rank of the Director General of Police in Punjab. I have been working as a
human rights and an anti drug activist, in Punjab, for several years now. I
have also been assisting the Hon’ble High Court of Punjab and Haryana in
certain petitions regarding the inflow, utilization and addiction of drugs in
this region. Several of my suggestions have been graciously accepted and are being
implemented by the Hon’ble Punjab and Haryana High Court
ii-
To keep the perspective right, I may kindly be permitted to give my
brief background. I, Shashi Kant, a 1977 batch (RR), officer was borne on
the strength of the Punjab cadre of the I.P.S. I have intense and in depth
knowledge on a wide variety of subjects on account of my having worked in the State
of Punjab, in various capacities and in various wings including field as also
head quarter postings, including that of Deputy Inspector General and Inspector
General of Police; Additional Director General of Police; intelligence,
security, internal vigilance and operations; and then as Director General of
Police; home guards, armed battalions and of prisons. I had also worked in the
Government of India for a long time and served in intelligence agencies,
Ministry of Home Affairs as also Ministry of External Affairs. I worked on a
number of sensitive postings / assignments and carried out overt and covert
operations as well, some of which were directly reported to the then Prime
Ministers. I am a decorated officer who has been considered as a core
intelligence officer, besides being also known as an ‘activist’ officer. I
retired towards the end of June 1012. Since then I have been actively involved
in ‘social and civil movements’, particularly against drugs.
iii-
It was during my posting as the Director General of Police
(prisons) that I once again, (the first being in 2007 when I was posted as
the head of intelligence wing of the Punjab police) saw and very closely studied
the problem of drugs in Punjab, both in the open civil society and in the
prison houses. I was shocked and moved by the magnitude there of and I decided
to dedicate the remainder of my life to fight against the scourge of drugs and
narcotics in the country, all facets thereof included, including the smuggling
there of and de-addiction.
B- Submissions;
i-
Drugs
are the biggest and one of the most serious of challenges before the country
and needs to be crushed ruthlessly. Whereas the drug policy of the Government of
India is full of loop holes, hardly any of the constituent States and Union Territories
has any serious policy to combat it. Wherever such a policy exists, it is just
on paper and is not being implemented in the right earnest. Despite the concern
expressed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, in his Man Ki Baat, no action has been
taken by any of the Governments. Besides
the direct involvement of a number of high profile Indians, at several
places including Goa, Mumbai, Delhi and Upper Parbati region of Himachal the
drug trade is being run by foreigners
under the very nose of the governments and is fast becoming a grave threat to the national security as
well.
ii-
Common
intoxicating / euphoric drugs which need to be controlled / curbed include;
-
Opiates
(opium products / derivatives)
-
Cocaine
-
Psychotropic
pharmaceuticals
-
Synthetic
and designer drugs etc
-
Curbs also need to be strengthened on Hashish/ Marijuana/ Bhang and other similar ‘herbs’ besides
-
‘Inhalants’
like thinner etc which are often being used by kids from slum areas as the
first step ‘drugs’ before they become full-fledged addicts.
C- Origin of drugs;
i-
Of these, Opiates (Heroin / Smack) are primarily coming
in from the ‘Golden Crescent’ consisting
of Afghanistan and some areas of the North West Frontier Province of Pakistan. From
Pakistan they are mostly being brought in through the Punjab border followed by
areas falling in states of Rajasthan; though route from across J&K,
Himachal, Gujarat and Mumbai besides the Nepal border are also being used. The Punjab route primarily opens in
Delhi which is fast becoming a Drug Capital as well. From there the
routes further cater to the ‘needs’ of the entire nation. Opiates, that are
Heroin / Smack coming in, are for consumption within our entire country as also
for further export to the United States and Europe besides Australia and other
countries.
ii-
The
other major originating place for this category of contraband, that is Heroin, is The ‘Golden Triangle’ located in the area consisting of
Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia etc. Heroin is smuggled in, primarily through the
North Eastern states and West Bengal. Drugs coming in through these routes are
majorly for consumption in various states, primarily those in the North East,
West Bengal, Bihar and Odisha etc besides the remainder of India as also it’s
‘export’ abroad.
iii-
Cocaine
is
being brought into the country by ‘couriers’ landing at various airports as
also by way of sea. Most important of such ‘import centers’ include Mumbai, Delhi
and Goa.
iv-
Psychotropic
pharmaceuticals, Synthetic / Designer Drugs are
being produced all over. Ingredients like Ephedrine and Pseudo Ephedrine are
procured from various ‘pharmaceutical parks’ and other hubs manufacturing drugs
at various places in the country despite
the fact that they are ‘controlled substances. Some of the latest of such
designer drugs are also ‘imported’ directly on one pretext or the other and
sold off on either false prescription in the black market.
D- Availability in the country
All of
them are almost freely available across the country, particularly all
metropolitan towns.
E- Effect on national economy
Unfortunately
no statistics is available, in respect of the entire country, to indicate the
quantum of drugs trade / drug addiction / deaths / incapacitation on their
account. The magnitude of entire trade
is expected to be astronomical. This money is traded through hawala and illegal
banking practices and is utilized for various purposes. It is a parallel
economy running in the country and is further worsening the problem of ‘Black
Money’ in the country and adversely affecting the economy of the country.
F- Effect on Foreign Policy
The
drug trade is also tarnishing the image of the country which has become one of
the most important drug routes leading to several countries abroad, including
the USA, Canada, Britain, the European Union and Australia etc. I am not aware if this issue was ever raised
in course of the successful visits of the Prime Minister abroad, but sooner or
later it will be raised because these countries are quite restive about the
issue of the drug trade into their territory and it may be a big embarrassment
for the country and the Hon’ble Prime minister’s successful and effective
foreign policy.
G- Possible suggestions to combat the
menace may include following;
i-
Cutting the chain of supply and arrest of the drug lords / barons
after identification thereof by the police with the help of the central
agencies including the CBI and the Intelligence agencies.
ii-
Identification of Government officials, including police and
security services, besides several other departments, who are conniving with
the drug lords / barons/ smugglers; their summary dismissal under article 311 of
the Constitution of India and then summary trials by the courts of law.
iii-
De addiction of addicts by the health department.
iv-
Their 'settlement' (job wise) by various ministries.
v-
Amending the legal provisions for removal of stigma attached
with the word addiction. Addiction is just a disease and can be cured. Its
declaration as ‘disease’ will bring in the Indian Medical Council and the
medical fraternity in a big way. A lot many national and international agencies
which provide donations for medical causes may also be able to help the
addicts.
vi-
Counseling of the family members as also of the addict by health
dept.
vii-
Creating awareness in the society on the issue of drugs by all
ministries.
viii-
Induction of a syllabus on drugs by the education departments.
The syllabus for various age groups needs to be prepared by the education
department with the help of psychologists, sociologists and psychiatrists
ix-
Similar education program for the parents to recognize the signs
of drug addiction among kids, even from the primary stage and education as to
how to 'handle' the kids
x-
Adequate sports activities among youth
xi-
Carrier counseling for children and youth of various age groups
xii-
Trying to improve employment opportunities to the extent
possible
H- Prayer
1-
Through
this petition, I beg to draw the attention of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India
towards the pathetic state of affairs in the entire country on account of open
and easy availability of drugs because of which generations are either being
lost or are getting incapacitated in more than one ways.
2-
The
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, himself is aware of the hopeless situation
across the country where drugs business continues to thrive on account of the
involvement / unholy nexus between some politicians, some officials of the
security forces including police and some other segments of the society /
officialdom.
3-
The
Hon’ble Prime Minister himself known as a crusader against drugs and has been
expressing himself strongly on the issue.
4- The petitioner is enclosing herewith
information which is available on the net and indicates that the entire country
is flooded and affected by drugs. It is
humbly requested that the Drug situation needs to be centrally monitored and
suitable / uniform instructions need to be issued to all Union and all State
Governments to take action as per a uniform ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ to
crush the unholy drug nexus operation in the country.
5- The
petitioner has immense knowledge on the subject and is prepared to assist in
any desired way to bring an end to the prevailing and continuing NARCO POLITICS
AND NARCO TERRORISM in the country.
6- Information available on the net indicating
that the entire country is flooded and affected by drugs, is enclosed for
favour of perusal.
(Shashi Kant)
Chandigarh, July 9, 2016
#1258, Sector 18-C
Chandigarh
Mobile; 8054433333
E.Mail; shashi.kant.ips@gmail.com
Copy to The NSA to the Hon’ble P.M. of
India with humble request that this issue may kindly be taken up earnestly in
the ultimate National Interest
(Shashi Kant)
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