Making a fervent appeal to form a protective shield against the scourge of substance abuse, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced a slew of measures to counter the menace as he formally launched the ‘No to Drugs’, an anti-narcotics campaign on Thursday.
In addition to mobilising vigilance committees in local bodies, the government will encourage the wider use of the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PITNDPS) Act that empowers senior bureaucrats to remand habitual offenders for up to two years without trial.
A databank of drug offenders will also be created on the lines of the KAAPA [Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act] registers that are maintained in police stations with the possibility of preventive detention explored.
