Chief Secy favours AI-driven tools, stricter enforcement to defeat drug menace

Srinagar, Oct 28: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Tuesday chaired the 15th Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting to review the ongoing efforts and coordinated measures being taken to curb the menace of narcotics trafficking and substance abuse across the districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department; Director General of Police (DGP); Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), CID; Principal Secretary, Home Department; and other senior officers from the civil and police administration.
Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) from all districts participated through video conferencing.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary underscored the critical importance of strengthening the legal and institutional framework to ensure higher conviction rates under the NDPS Act. He directed the Police and Law Departments to collaborate closely to devise a strategy for improving prosecution outcomes.
The Chief Secretary further called for developing an AI-enabled system to assist in the preparation of watertight charge sheets and directed IGP Jammu to lead the development of this module in coordination with the Prosecution and Law Departments.
He further instructed that all bails and acquittals granted in commercial quantity cases be promptly challenged, and directed the formulation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for Investigating and Prosecuting Officers to avoid common procedural lapses that hinder successful convictions.
Highlighting the need for vigilance in the health sector, the Chief Secretary asked for a robust monitoring mechanism to track medicines prescribed to de-addiction patients to prevent misuse. He directed the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to enhance the pace and quality of sample testing to ensure timely generation of credible reports.
He also called for a review of long-pending NDPS cases, identification of reasons for procedural delays, and necessary corrective measures. He emphasized capacity building of investigating officers, prosecutors, and legal personnel to enhance the overall effectiveness of the anti-narcotics drive.
Directing intensified surveillance around identified drug hotspots, particularly near coaching centres and private educational institutions, the Chief Secretary stressed safeguarding the youth from drug abuse. He reiterated the need for mapping both backward and forward linkages in every case to dismantle the entire narcotic supply network.
He also suggested cancellation of driving licences of habitual offenders and other preventive actions, asserting that there can be no scope for complacency in combating this social evil.
The Chief Secretary instructed all districts to convene NCORD meetings regularly, ensure attendance of senior officers, and upload the proceedings on the national portal without fail.
He also reviewed the Action Taken Reports (ATRs) on earlier directions, including monitoring of untraced cases, status of investigations, invocation of PITNDPS Act against peddlers, trials in absentia, and functioning of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
Calling for augmentation of manpower in de-addiction facilities, he directed the Health Department to train medical officers at IMHANS and hire psychiatrists on academic arrangements for smooth operation of these centres. He also stressed the need to initiate in-patient (IPD) de-addiction facilities at other district hospitals.
The Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education, suggested stringent measures to keep educational campuses drug-free and called for sustained awareness drives among students.
The DGP assured full support in intensifying the campaign against narcotics and highlighted cross-border linkages, reiterating the police’s commitment to dismantling such networks.
The Principal Secretary, Home, gave a detailed analysis of pending investigations, commercial quantity cases, district-level NCORD activities, and supervisory oversight mechanisms. The ADGP, CID, emphasized that the success of NDPS cases heavily depends on timely and accurate FSL reports, and called for focused attention in this area.
Providing operational data, ADGP, Crime, Sujit K. Singh, reported that up to September 2025, 1,342 NDPS cases were registered, out of which 1,305 were challaned, leading to 142 convictions, 197 acquittals, and 339 trials completed, including 12 high-conviction cases.
He further informed that 215 PITNDPS detentions were invoked this year, 222 hotspots identified (44 demolished), 1,350 individuals under surveillance, and 983 CCTVs installed across both the divisions. Only 71 FSL cases remained pending dated from October 6, 2025, the meeting was apprised.
It was also revealed that 103 backward and forward linkages were established, resulting in the arrest of 113 individuals. Moreover, 107 trials in absentia are nearing conclusion, paving the way for declaring offenders as proclaimed. On the financial front, 67 investigations led to the attachment of 81 properties worth Rs 16.64 Cr. Nearly 99% of retail pharmacies have implemented computerized billing and CCTV surveillance systems, as was given out in this meeting.
The Secretary, Health & Medical Education, briefed the meeting on training programmes for teachers, SHG members, and frontline workers. He informed that over 32,000 patients have availed OPD services and 551 new admissions were recorded in IPD facilities at de-addiction centres since January this year.
The meeting also reviewed the compliance status of de-addiction centres, coordination between law enforcement and health institutions, and the strengthening of district-level enforcement mechanisms.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance policy against narcotics, the Chief Secretary urged all departments to work in synergy and adopt innovative, technology-driven, and preventive approaches to achieve a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir.