Punjab Police ask Centre for powers to check pharma drug trade

Following the killing of a 45-year-old anti-drug activist inside a Mansa medical store on October 13 after he confronted a chemist over illegal pill sales, Punjab Police have taken major steps to address the illicit pharmaceutical trade. The state police chief requested the Centre to grant police officers joint enforcement powers alongside drug inspectors by amending the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Authorities also urged the Union government to classify habit-forming prescription drugs, notably Pregabalin, under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to ensure strict, non-bailable prosecution.

State officials highlighted that synthetic drugs and illicit pharmaceutical supplies are smuggled into Punjab from neighbouring states, including Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The Punjab health minister emphasized a zero-tolerance policy against drug misuse, noting that authorities are monitoring thousands of chemist shops and specific drug hotspots across districts like Patiala. Additionally, the state government has launched a 60-day plan targeting hundreds of identified hotspots, mapping listed peddlers and major suppliers based on intelligence inputs.

In response to the activist's murder, the Punjab government handed over the investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation upon the family's request, following the initial arrest of four suspects by local police. Officials continue to coordinate with police chiefs from neighbouring states to tighten pharmaceutical regulations and cut off supply lines into Punjab, particularly affecting the southern districts.

Not yet reported: The reports do not specify the identities of the four arrested suspects or the exact progress of the CBI investigation beyond its handover.