Wednesday 4 May 2016

My affidavit filed in Punjab & Haryana High Court today, May 4, in the Drug related case. Notice issued to Punjab and Union Government

                 IN THE HON’BLE PUNJAB AND HARYANA HIGH COURT

                                                         CHANDIGARH

                                                            CM No. ______________________ Of 2016
                                                                                                In
CWP NO. 20359 of 2013(O&M)

Court on its Own Motion                             
Versus
 State of Punjab and others


            Affidavit of Shashi Kant, IPS (Retd.), a former Director General of Police, Punjab, Resident of #1258, Sector 18-C, Chandigarh

I, the above named deponent do hereby solemnly affirm and declare as under:

RESPECTFULLY SHOWETH:-

PRELIMINARY SUBMISSISSIONS:

1.     That this Hon’ble Court had, very kindly, Suo Motu admitted this CWP No 20359 of 2013 (O&M) on the basis of my very broad spectrum letter petition concerning the glut of drugs in Punjab and resultant ‘genocide’ of people at the behest of highly placed drug lords and drug barons living on the very soil of Punjab, a number of which are known to be highly placed politicians, with active and willful connivance of a number of personnel belonging to security forces including Punjab Police and BSF etc.
2.     That though UT Chandigarh and Haryana, over a period of time became serious competitors in the matter of drug consumption, but they are lucky enough to be second and third in this sinister race (some areas like Gurgaon and Faridabad; in that order; which fall on the periphery of Delhi, are however as much, if not more inundated like Punjab. Gurgaon tops the list). We are thankful to this Honorable Court for taking this important issue which can save people of Punjab.  The steps taken till now, however, fall under the category of ‘long term’ remedies. The most important of the immediate and foremost steps, that is cutting the chain of supply, has however not been addressed to in its entirety.

PRAYER:

1-    In context of Punjab, the situation continues getting more and more out of control with not only new addicts joining but the chain of suppliers also getting swollen. In this context suppliers mean second, third and still downwards rung of suppliers and pushers. Immediate need is to cut off the chain of supply of drugs which has remained intact. As per my information as an antidrug activist, major drug lords in Punjab remain the same as they were in 2007.I have filed innumerable affidavits seeking permission to disclose those names which appeared in the list of drug dons prepared by the intelligence wing of the Punjab police under myown orders way back in2007 when I was posted as the Additional Director General of Police, Intelligence. The state government has unfortunately been making divergent statements in this regard, the last being an outright denial by them about the very existence of this report. It is only a clever move by the Punjab government which knows that even if a copy of this reports exists anywhere, that can’t be made public because if it being a ‘Top Secret’ document and coming under the preview of the Official Secrets Act.

2.     These drug dons, most of whom are known political figures still control the smuggling operations, though now in a more discreet way. Drug trade and political patronage there to is only going to further increase in view of impending Punjab Assembly Elections scheduled for early 2017. This Hon’ble Court may like to peruse the enclosed report of the then Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Qureshi which was highlighted in the press and a copy of which is enclosed at Annexure-A. It indicates that drugs and drug money remains a major factor in the Punjab elections. Punjab government only remains a major conspirator and abettor on account of its willful failure to break this cartel. Situation is akin to the one prevailing in South America. More and more police officials are also known to be working as promoters of the drugs. Politicians and police nexus with drug smugglers is true not only in case of Punjab but of Haryana and UT Chandigarh as well besides elsewhere in the entire country as also the world at large.

3.     That Punjab government remains a will full partner and abettor is clear from that fact that till now, at least since September 2013, when this Hon’ble Court had taken suo-motu notice of my letter petition, none of the powerful drug lords have been arrested till now. As and when this Hon’ble Court seeks an explanation, the Punjab government goes into a fit and in a rush, arrests thousand of persons, innocents as also petty end users / peddlers, submits figures in the Court and then goes off into the sleep mode. With due regards for the office of the Chief Minister, I hold him responsible for this state of affairs and for thousands of deaths on account of drugs. He is the captain of the ship and should not hesitate to accept his ultimate responsibility. He takes laurels for whatever success and shirks when it comes to accepting responsibility. He needs to be made a party to this petition.

4.     Had he been serious, he would at least have ordered, in the first place, a special time bound survey of drug addiction, prevalence and availability like he orders special girdawries in case of a natural calamity. Secondly he would have ordered a total crack down on the drug barons and lord, about whom even kids of Punjab know. Only the Punjab government and Punjab police are mercifully unaware of their identity because they are sharing the drug money. I request this Hon’ble Court to hold the Punjab government guilty, vicariously or otherwise for at least willful negligence of duty which has led to the death of thousand of youth in Punjab on account of drugs. The victims of the drug abuse also need to be compensated adequately because it is only on account of its casual attitude and complicity that thousands of them lost their lives to drugs and almost an entire generation has been wiped out. I once again also request this Hon’ble Court to please permit me to bring to its notice names of more notorious of drug lords and barons of Punjab as also major beneficiaries of drug money. As a responsible police officer I had been bringing these names and facts to the notice of the Punjab Chief Minister. I can either submit the names, as per my memory, eitjer in the form of a list or even take the names in the open court.I wish to assist this court only in the interest of justice and for a just social cause even at the cost of my life.
5.     I wish to bring it to the notice of this Honorable Court that I have no ill will against the Punjab government to whom I have served for decades. For anti drug work, I have been offering my service to it since 2007 and my offer still remains open, if the same is done under the supervision, this Honorable court because I just do not have any faith in the Punjab government which is run by politicians, by the politicians and for the politicians.

6.     I also request this Honorable Court to please direct the Election Commission of India to ensure that drugs and drug money do not play any role in the forthcoming Assembly Elections due in Punjab in 2017. I had made this submission in this Hon’ble Court way back in 2014 as well and the then Hon’ble Mr. Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had directed me to approach the Election Commission of India. I carried out the orders and the E.C.I. had been candid enough to admit the massive role of drugs and drug money in Punjab’s electoral politics. I had submitted details of this meeting to this Hon’ble Court and they must be a part of record. But since my plea with the Election Commission had not helped on ground in 2014, I hereby again approach this Hon’ble Court to issue appropriate instructions to the Election Commission, more so on account of the damaging report of the ECE, which had appeared in the press. Ideally one of the most important instructions could be posting of renowned intellectuals, journalists, NGO people and such other individuals of repute who may not succumb to the pressures and lures of the field officials and politicians of Punjab. I have long enough been the part of the government machinery to know how these election observers are lured and how a woefully large number of such officials fall prey to the dangling bate.

7.     It is also humbly brought to the the notice of this Honorable court that the drug issue is eating into the very vitals of the entire country and the Indian society and drugs are prevalent everywhere. I am literally a lone ranger in this matter fighting the matter at the cost of the security of my own self as also of my family and I do not have required resources and capacity to fight with the drug lords except by approaching this Hon’ble Court. In the name of justice, I beseech this Hon’ble Court to please refer the matter to the Supreme Court pertaining to drug menance in the entire nation so that the Pan India situation could be addressed to uniformly. This Hon’ble Court is requested to please continue looking into the issues pertaining to Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh, most importantly Punjab, one of the major gate ways of drugs into the rest of the country.

8.     My last prayer to this Hon’ble Court will be to take a note that if either I or my family is harassed or harmed in any way, the Punjab government and top brass of the Punjab police shall be personally responsible there for. There is hardly any place or space here to indicate the harassing and intimidating tactics which continue to be employed against me by such persons in power and position. With due apologies and with utmost humility, I may please be permitted to bring the attention of this Hon’ble Court to the recent statement of the Honorable Mr. Chief Justice of India about the way certain governments behave to twist the arm and I am the smallest possible fly in this small state of Punjab. 
Respectfully submitted please

Place: - Chandigarh                                                                                 Deponent

Dated:- 4/5/2016                                                           Shashi Kant I.P.S. (Retd.)

Verification:-

Verified that above contents from para 1-7 are true and correct to my knowledge and information

Place: - Chandigarh                                                                                 Deponent

Dated:- 4/5/2016                                                           Shashi Kant I.P.S. (Retd.)






















                                                                                                                   ANNEXURE-A







No comments:

Post a Comment