Housing, Prisons and Disaster Management Department Principal Secretary Vandana Dadel and Director General and Inspector General of Police Anurag Gupta on Tuesday chaired a review meeting aimed at eradicating illegal opium cultivation and to prevent the misuse of narcotics prohibited in the Chatra Collectorate.

While discussing all pending cases related to NDPS, they reviewed all such cases (especially those pending since 2023 and before) and directed to dispose of these cases immediately by resolving the reasons for delay. In particular, they examined all cases in which a large or commercial quantity was recovered.

During the meeting, several instructions were given. In order to prevent illegal cultivation of opium, mutual coordination should be established between the officers and personnel of the police and forest department and strict legal measures should be taken as required.

Opium cultivation is often done in remote areas and forest lands, hence cooperation from forest authorities is expected.

Police Commissioner Chatra/Hazaribagh/Ranchi/Latehar, these areas are badly affected by opium cultivation. All necessary measures should be taken to completely prevent the illegal cultivation of opium in these districts.

It is often seen that on the land where opium is cultivated, after its destruction, a Sanha is registered at the police station, which is not proper. If illegal opium cultivation is destroyed on land, then a primary basis should be recorded.

If a police station official fails to take desired action following the information received from the Special Branch, strict disciplinary action should be taken against him.

Regular verification of accused in previously registered NDPS-related cases will be carried out to ensure that they are currently in jail or out on bail. When identifying these defendants, be sure to obtain information about the status of their current source of income. Moreover, if these criminals are continuously accused in NDPS related cases, their Dosiyar should be opened.

Considering the illegal cultivation of opium, pre-cultivation programs such as organizing meetings at the Gram Panchayat level, awareness campaigns and making people aware of the ill effects of opium in schools and colleges should be assured.

The Commissioner of Police will ensure to take further steps by coordinating with his respective Deputy Commissioner to establish de-addiction centers in drug-affected districts like Chatra/Hazaribagh/Latehar etc.

Superintendent of Police Chatra/Hazaribagh/Latehar and Superintendent of Rural Police Ranchi will ensure regular inspection of hotels and dhabas located on the national highway so that hotels or dhabas do not purchase and sell toxic substances like illegal opium/brown sugar etc. , if evidence is found, be sure to collect the desired information regarding the pivot.

During this meeting Ravi Ranjan, Additional PCCF, Amol Vinukant Homkar, IG (Operations), Asim Vikant Minj, IG (Office, Investigation Department), Michael S. Raj, IG (Bokaro), Sunil Bhaskar, DIG, Hazaribagh, Kartik S. DIG, Special Branch, Amit Renu, SP, Operations, SP, Special Branch, SP, SIB and other senior police officers, DC of Chatra, BDO, CO, all DSPs/Sis of Chatra district and police station officials of all border areas were present.