Chandigarh will be India’s first drug-free city, says Amit Shah

CHANDIGARH.  Chandigarh Police received the President’s Colour on its 60th foundation day on Sunday, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave the force its next big task: to clear the city of narcotics before any other in the country.

“When we are pledging a Nasha Mukt Bharat, I am confident that the first city to become drug-free will be Chandigarh,” Shah said at the Police Lines in Sector 26, where he was chief guest.

He said that under the new NDPS provisions, Chandigarh Police had sent 93% of accused to jail. He called the drive against drugs and gangsters “a very big achievement” of the force.

Shah also made an appeal to the police personnel. “Despite being close to Punjab, Chandigarh will become the country’s drug-free city. I have come to appeal to you to take a pledge and make the next generation drug-free,” he said.

Record under new criminal laws

Shah said Chandigarh had set a national record under the new criminal laws. Since August 4, 2024, the city has registered 8,206 FIRs and filed chargesheets online in 7,590 of them.

“Under the old laws, people got only tareekh par tareekh (date after date). But Chandigarh has secured punishment for 85% of the accused under the new laws, and that too within six months,” he said.

If the whole country follows this model, he added, criminals will be punished and victims will get justice.

‘Never seen a traffic jam here’

Shah praised the city’s traffic management. “Wherever I go in the country, I give the example of Chandigarh Police,” he said. “Chandigarh has the highest number of vehicles per person. I have come here many times, before and after becoming Home Minister, but I have never seen a traffic jam.”

He said Chandigarh is second in the country in police response time. He expects it to reach the top spot next year once 141 new vehicles join the fleet. The vehicles were inducted after the ceremony.

More AI cameras, new police homes

The city already has 2,130 CCTV cameras. Shah said the Centre has sanctioned 2,152 more cameras fitted with artificial intelligence. He was also scheduled to inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects worth ₹258 crore, including 192 Type-3 houses for police personnel.

He said Chandigarh Police has won 145 medals so far. It also gives ₹8,000 a month to 130 families of personnel who died in service.

Tribute to martyrs

Shah began by paying tribute to the force’s martyrs. He said the honour recognised six decades of service. Chandigarh, he said, was not spared during the years of terrorism, and its police showed great courage then.

He recalled that Chandigarh was made a Union Territory and the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana on November 1, 1966. He credited the force for managing the tricity well in coordination with the Punjab and Haryana police.

Administrator’s ‘complaint’

Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria said the city’s police response time now stands at 4 minutes 33 seconds. The force has grown from 1,600 personnel at its start to over 4,500 today.

He also spoke openly about a recent lapse. “I had a small complaint with this police. When a man was shot dead inside a market, I called the officers and told them I was unhappy. But I am glad they caught the accused in both cases,” Kataria said.

On drugs, he said 111 people have been arrested so far. Some children have been sent to rehabilitation centres. “In the second phase, we will bring these children out and connect them with sports. We have pledged that drugs will not be sold in Chandigarh,” he said.

Earlier, Shah received a guard of honour and inspected the parade in an electric cart. A prayer meeting with Hindu, Sikh, Christian and Muslim religious leaders marked the occasion. DGP Dr Sagar Preet Hooda was also present.