Former DGP Prisons Punjab Shashi Kant says drug mafia flourish with political patronage

Ludhiana, October 19, 2013: The participants in the seminar on “Rising crime rate-causes and solutions” organised by Social Thinkers Forum and Lok Sahit Manch decried the rise in all sorts of crime in the state which has made the life of common peace loving citizens unsafe. Women, children and elderly have become highly vulnerable. All sorts of crime is on the rise, right from petty crimes like road rage, chain snatchings, petty thefts to bigger crimes like burglaries, dacoities and heinous ones like  kidnapping, rape and murder. Patronage by a section of politicians, police and the bureaucracy has given ground to the mafia to strengthen itself.
Speaking on the occasion, Shashi Kant IPS, former DGP Prisons Punjab, warned that the drug mafia in particular has become very powerful and is responsible for ruining life of innumerable number of youth and has become one of the major causes of rise in the crime rate in the state. Such sort of mafia cannot flourish without political patronage, he affirmed. It is apathetic that he has given in writing to the government about involvement of several influential and other high-ups in drug paddling, but no cognizance has been taken about it, he said. That maximum drug trade is through Punjab – has been admitted by several US and European agencies.   With the entry of criminals in politics, use of muscle & money power, use of communal, cast and parochial slogans to win the elections, the democratic institutions have been weakened. This is shaking the faith of people in democracy which can prove to be unhealthy for society and dangerous for the nation.
Vijay Simha, New Delhi-based Sobriety Campaigner & Counselor, and former executive editor of Tehelka.com, said the youth of Punjab are taking to drugs because of five principal reasons: poor role models, tolerant society, poor money skills, high sense of victimhood in the state and low thinking skills. This is the result, he said, of state policy that targets and even eliminates those who speak and act against the drug mafia, and tolerates drug dealers. Simha said a six-point action plan would help Punjab. The six points are: treat peddlers as public enemies, have a chapter on addiction in textbooks, educate the 6-10 age group, have marks for not smoking, drinking or using drugs in schools, colleges and offices, reward performance in sport, art and music, focus on behaviour awareness of parents. The state, he added, must go after drug dealers and their network, whoever it may include.
Mitter Sain former District Attorney Ludhiana, in his address said that several lacuna in legal system help the criminals to go scot free in the absence of evidence. On the ‘role of criminal justice system in curbing the menace of drug peddling’ he pointed out that the first agency of this system i.e. Police, due to lack of knowledge of basic law and of procedure of investigation is not filing leak-proof charge-sheets in the Courts. Due to defective investigation, accused take benefit and procure acquittals.  Second agency i.e. Court is giving undue weightage to the principal of ‘Benefit of Doubt’ and liberally acquit accused even in heinous crimes merely on technical grounds. It encourages the professional criminals to repeat the offences with immunity. The third agency i.e. Jail is also not performing its duty properly. Jail manual is full of pro-accused facilities. Rich, professional and influential criminals are given VIP treatment. It defeats the purpose of confinement. He further stressed that drastic changes in the whole system is the need of the hour.
Dr. Arun Mitra in his address said that the introduction of neoliberal economic policies have added to the already existing economic gaps. There is job freeze, underemployment and insecurity of jobs. The socio economic environment affects society at various levels and in its various dimensions - social, political, economic and cultural. Economic crimes and other crimes as an after effect of the economic crimes are on the rise. In this free market driven society driving of profits is glorified. A very small section has become super rich. The super rich in this socio economic environment has developed extreme greed and lust for money. The middle income group is made to live in illusions and dream like the super rich. The rich commit crime for greed, the poor are forced to commit crime for needs as well as in desperation when their issues are not heard.
Dr L S Chawla former Founder Vice Chancellor Baba Farid University of Health Sciences presided over the function.    
MS Bhatia compeered the session and initiated discussion where in several people participated.
The seminar made recommendations which include some immediate tasks and some long term steps.  These recommendations are as under:
Change in Police Law - Police law has to be amended to make them accountable and behave in a manner that fits the present day society. The medieval methods used by the police have to be shed. The lower rung policemen have to be made sensitive towards the common man.
VIP Security - The security forces deployed to the service of the VIPs have to be taken off. Only the Governor and the Chief Minister should be given the security cover.
No Arms to Civilians - Arms licenses should not be issued to the civilians. Arms in the hands of the civilians are generally used to show the muscle power. It should be the duty of state to provide security to its people.
Change in Legal System - Active steps should be taken to bring about changes in the legal system to provide speedy justice. Free/cost effective legal aid should be ensured to the common citizens.
Economic Policies for Inclusive Growth - Equality of opportunity and accessibility to all for education, health and basic civic services etc. should be ensured through inclusive growth. An employed person is likely to fall prey to criminal activities as compared to the unemployed ones. More job opportunities have to be created. There is need for inclusive growth. Worldwide data shows that when the economic gaps are minimised, the crime rate comes down.   
Electoral Reforms - Electoral reforms to minimize the use of money should be taken up.
Among others who participated in the discussion include Dr.Ajit Singh, Randhir Singh Dheera,  Harpreet Singh Advocate, Dr.Gulzar Singh Pandher, Ranjit Singh, Maj Retd. S S Aulakh, Sunil Prabhakar, Dalbir Singh Ludhianvi, Col. Retd. Brar, Satish Sood, Commiker Singh, Dr Amarjit Singh, Com Bharpoor Singh, N K Chhibber Advocate, D P Maur, Dr.Rajinder Pal Singh Aulakh, Gurcharan Kaur Kocher, Ramesh Rattan, Davinder Singh Wahi, Avtar Chhibber, Kuldeep Singh Binder, Gurnam Singh Sidhu, Rajvinder Singh, Inderjit Singh Sodhi, Gurwant Singh, Er.Kuldeep Singh, Dr Narjit Kaur, Baldev Singh Walia, Manjeet Singh Buta. www.cityairnews.com