Centre to open 16 NCB offices in Punjab: Bittu

Union minister of state for railways Ravneet Bittu says rampant drug availability in Punjab is a cause of concern and recent deaths of three persons in drug-related incidents shows the alarming condition.

BATHINDA

Ludhiana MP pays tributes at Shaheedi Park in Moga town where 25 RSS volunteers were killed by terrorists on June 25, 1989.

Union minister of state for railways and Ludhiana member of Parliament (MP) Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday said that the Centre has decided to open Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) offices in 16 districts across Punjab to curb drug trafficking.

After paying tributes at Shaheedi Park in Moga town where 25 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) volunteers were killed by the terrorists on June 25, 1989, Bittu said rampant drug availability in Punjab is a cause of concern and recent deaths of three persons in drug-related incidents shows the alarming condition.

The Union minister told reporters that the NCB will be entrusted to dig deep to find if the politicians and government officials are indulged in the menace of drugs.

“Punjab has an NCB’s zonal office in Amritsar and 16 more will be opened in the coming months. The Centre is devising a plan to check drug trafficking,” he said.

Bittu blamed the Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for its inability to contain drug trafficking and easy availability of drugs in the state.

“Getting elected as an MP or MLA from jail is not a guarantee that an individual will be able to dispense his or her duty as an elected representative in a true spirit. One has to ensure that he will practice as per the Indian constitution,” he added.