Punjab top cop says drug smuggling can be stopped in 24 hours: ‘All addicts should give us information about smugglers’

Human rights and RTI activist Harmilap Grewal said, “The police arrested Parminder Singh Jhota for conducting raids without authority, but the police are also doing the same. The Mansa police replied in an RTI application that they didn’t obtain any magistrate’s order before conducting any CASO. The police first inform the media, search poor people’s homes, and violate their privacy. Can the police search a rich person with the media following it? The police themselves leak information about raids in advance to the media. What success can you expect from these raids? Village committees are more effective and do not violate privacy as the police do.”

The Indian Express talked to Additional Director General of Police (Bathinda Range) IPS S P S Parmar about the concerns regarding both the Nasha Roko committees and the CASO.

Some village-level Nasha Roko committees have been formed against drug smugglers. How do you see this development?

Parmar: It is good if people are forming committees. Our objectives are the same. There are no contradictions.

Can it lead to a situation like the Parminder Singh Jhota case in Mansa?

Parmar: No one can violate the law. That should be taken care of by these committees. They are welcome to remain in touch with the police. They should talk to the local police and inform them about any movement of smugglers. We will send a team immediately.

Are the police considering contacting these committees?

Parmar: We can’t go into that. There may be more than one committee in a village. We can’t be involved in the politics between committees. We will welcome it if they provide us with information.

There are already two incidents in which one committee member was shot dead and another was injured when they went to the home of someone they saw as a drug smuggler.

Parmar: Everyone has the right to self-defence. If some unauthorised person, who is not even a peon in the department, tries to enforce his will, that is illegal. There is the law and the Constitution.

But the police also conduct search operations without a magistrate’s order at smugglers’ homes. There are allegations of violation of privacy in such operations…

Parmar: We can check any house or car if there is reasonable suspicion. We conduct searches in the presence of locals. We don’t go there to steal something. There is no ulterior intention. They are not our enemies. They are our public. If someone wants to stop drugs, they must join the police force. They are welcome. Why can’t they join the Punjab Police?

But there are allegations that someone from the police informs the smugglers about such raids in advance.

Parmar: This is a figment of imagination. Nobody forces anyone to take drugs. Who makes the addicts consume Rs 3,000 worth of drugs every day? How come parents don’t know about the person selling drugs to their son?

They allege that the police don’t take action when information is given…

Parmar: These are all dramas. Suppose I am buying drugs from someone. If I were to tell the police that I have bought drugs from that person, why wouldn’t the police arrest that person? We have given the police helpline number 112 to make complaints. Nobody can sell drugs until there are buyers.

Parminder Singh Jhota claimed he was an addict and was conducting self-styled raids on those who were allegedly selling.

Parmar: Parminder Singh tested positive in dope tests twice during his recent two arrests. Why doesn’t he tell us where he bought the drugs from? These are all dramas. Even poison is available in the market. If someone eats poison, how is it the responsibility of the police? It is easy to criticise governments and the police. First, everyone should look at themselves. Does the police make someone take an injection?

A police officer booked in an NDPS case, DIG Inderbir Singh, serves in the police force. Another officer, Raj Jit Singh, served for years with allegations of having links with smugglers. How can public confidence be maintained in the police?

Parmar: Black sheep are everywhere in every profession. The Vigilance Bureau makes arrests every day from different departments. There could be some black sheep in our department as well. Who booked Raj Jit and then declared him a PO? That was also done by the police department. That should be appreciated. The Punjab Police registered a case against Inderbir Singh. We need to remember this aspect.

I am saying that drug smuggling can be stopped in 24 hours. All addicts should give us information about smugglers. The entire Punjab could be cleaned in a day. Police only come to know when an addict is dead. We can’t see through walls. A narrative has been built that focuses on blaming the police and any government, irrespective of the party.

The government or police don’t sell the drugs. Cooperation is lacking on the part of the public. We are ready. Have Jhota or any committee made all these recent huge recoveries like 78 kg in Ferozpur and 4 kg in Bathinda? Government and police are soft targets.

But the responsibility is also on the government…

Parmar: Yes, I’ve said 100 times that we have the responsibility. But if it’s not the responsibility of the public to know that their son is an addict and from whom he buys drugs.

But now the committees say they will give you information…

Parmar: We welcome that. Stopping the supply chain is our job. But halting the demand is also important, and it is (the onus) is also on society.