The state government has decided to appoint the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) as the nodal agency to curb drug menace in Maharashtra. For this, it has been decided to amend the law. In the Assembly on Tuesday, Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis admitted that drug smuggling has increased in the state and criminals are using courier, post and social media to carry out the smuggling. In the assembly on Tuesday, apart from MLA Rohit Pawar of Sharad Pawar’s NCP, other members including Nana Patole, Anil Deshmukh, Jitendra Awhad, Abu Asim Azmi raised the issue of increasing drug menace in the state. Several MLAs of the Assembly participated in the discussion that went on for a long time. While answering the questions of the members, Deputy Chief Minister and State Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis made many shocking revelations. He said that drug peddlers are using new techniques. Couriers, post and social media are using WhatsApp, SMS, Darknet. We have decided to appoint ATS as the nodal agency to control the distribution of narcotics.
He said that the government is using modern technology. State borders are being monitored. Border security has been increased. In the House, he admitted that a large amount of drug smuggling is also taking place in containers. Drug supply has been reported at Mundra and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPT) to name a few more items. To prevent this, the process of procuring state-of-the-art scanners is underway.
Fadnavis said that some suggestions have been presented to the central government to stop the sale of drugs. For example, there has been a demand to increase the time limit for filing charge sheet from 90 days to 180 days. Along with this, it has been requested to give the authority of NCB to ATS or ADG level officer, to change the interpretation of commercial material. Due to this maximum number of accused will be punished. Changes are proposed in the law in the state. Fadnavis has warned that if anyone in the administration is found involved in drug trafficking, he will be sacked outright using Article 311.
Fadnavis said that some nationals of other countries, including Nigeria, have been found involved in the supply of narcotics. They stay here longer than the visa period in violation of visa rules. To avoid deportation, they indulge in petty crimes and stay here for long periods of time. To prevent this, the state government has decided to set up detention centres, where these foreign nationals will be kept till they are sent to their countries.
