Cyberabad Police plan to set up special cell to control drug menace

Hyderabad: To counter the drug menace in its limits, the Cyberabad Police is planning to set up an exclusive Narcotics Control Cell which will focus on strategies and steps to be followed to eradicate drugs, with the help of the Excise Department and other stakeholders. Through the cell, officials intend to take up preventive measures, […]

Hyderabad: To counter the drug menace in its limits, the Cyberabad Police is planning to set up an exclusive Narcotics Control Cell which will focus on strategies and steps to be followed to eradicate drugs, with the help of the Excise Department and other stakeholders. Through the cell, officials intend to take up preventive measures, detailed investigation ending in conviction of cases and seek to create awareness in youth against drug abuse.

Following instructions from the State government to the police force to have zero tolerance towards drug abuse and peddlers, Cyberabad Police Commissioner M Stephen Raveendra who felt the need to have a special cell to deal with drug related cases, directed officials to set up one at the earliest.

Recently, the Commissioner held a review meeting in this regard with officials from different wings and it was decided to have a three-pronged strategy – Preventive, Investigative and Responsive.

According to officials, the Narcotics Control Cell will be led by an inspector rank officer assisted by at least 30 personnel including the technical team. Depending upon the need, the strength maybe increased in future.

“The role and the contribution of the cell are being planned. It will mainly focus on having preventive strategies, identification of hotspots where marijuana and other drugs are being sold or peddled from and take action accordingly,” said Inspector R Srinivas, who has been selected to lead the team.

The investigation in cases will also be monitored closely to end in convictions and all associated activities. As strategy preventive measures, investigation, responsive programmes will be in the process. They warned of invoking the Preventive Detention Act on offenders.

“Using technology hotspots of drug menace will be identified and measures will be taken. Cooperation and coordination of other departments, mainly the Excise Department is also being sought to fight the drug menace,” Srinivas, who earlier worked in drug hotspots like Dhoolpet, explained.

The cell will also take up programmes seeking support of all the communities in rural as well as urban areas by community policing and stop cultivation of marijuana. Apart from this, the Cyberabad Police also intends to conduct regular and random cordon and searches in hotspot pockets and stretches regularly. Senior officials have directed the sector Sub-Inspectors to identify hotspots and increase patrolling.

Police Commissioner also announced that there will be cash rewards and accelerated promotions for the officers those do exemplary work in enforcement against social vices.

---

Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday. Click the link to subscribe.

Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .

---