Chandigarh to be first drug-free region in country: Amit Shah

Despite its proximity to Punjab, which is grappling with a serious drug abuse problem, Chandigarh will become the first region in the country to be declared drug-free, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Sunday.

Addressing the Diamond Jubilee celebrations marking 60 years of Chandigarh Police, Shah said the force had made significant progress in tackling drug trafficking and organised crime. He said Chandigarh Police had secured convictions in 93 per cent of cases registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, describing its campaign against drugs and gangsters as a major achievement.

Shah also presented the President’s Colour Award to Chandigarh Police in recognition of its six decades of service, dedication and commitment. Punjab Governor and Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria was among the dignitaries present at the ceremony.

Congratulating the force, Shah said Chandigarh Police had written a golden chapter in the city’s history through its continuous efforts to protect residents and maintain law and order since 1966. He said the President’s Colour was awarded to police forces in recognition of more than 15 years of distinguished service, taking into account their discipline, dedication and performance.

The Home Minister said 141 new vehicles were being inducted into the Chandigarh Police fleet to strengthen rapid response, patrolling, mobility and technology-driven policing. He expressed confidence that Chandigarh Police, which currently ranked second in the country in response time, would move to the top position following the induction of the vehicles.

Recalling the force’s history, Shah said Chandigarh Police had played a significant role in protecting the city and the northern region, particularly during the period of terrorism. Chandigarh, situated at the foothills of the Shivalik range, was regarded as one of India’s best-planned cities but had also faced the threat of terrorism, he said.

He said Chandigarh became a Union Territory on November 1, 1966, and was designated the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana. Working in coordination with the police forces of both states, Chandigarh Police had effectively managed security and law and order in the tri-city region.

With a strength of more than 6,000 personnel, the force had established benchmarks through the work of its Crime Wing, Operations Cell, Security Wing, Traffic Police and PCR units, Shah said.

Highlighting improvements in the criminal justice system, he said Chandigarh had moved away from the prolonged delays associated with the earlier system, popularly described as ‘tareekh pe tareekh’. The conviction rate had reached 85 per cent, while the average time taken to secure convictions had come down to 140 days, he added.

Shah said policing should not remain confined to tackling terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime and maintaining law and order. Ensuring easy access to police services for citizens was equally important. He praised Chandigarh Police’s Beat Policing App, saying the system had helped people access routine services without having to repeatedly visit police stations.

He also pointed out that Chandigarh had the highest number of vehicles per capita in the country but had managed to avoid major traffic congestion.

According to Shah, Chandigarh Police had a quick response time of around 10 minutes, while the average time taken by personnel to reach a location was four minutes. He said Chandigarh was the first city to introduce the Beat Policing system after 2015.

Referring to the three new criminal laws introduced by the Narendra Modi government, Shah said their launch in Chandigarh marked a shift away from the three criminal laws enacted during British rule. He said the new legislation was aimed at transforming the country’s criminal justice system.

Home Minister said Chandigarh Police had registered 8,206 FIRs since August 4, 2024 and filed online charge sheets in 7,590 cases. He said the force had achieved an overall conviction rate of 85 per cent demonstrating how effective implementation of the new laws could improve the delivery of justice.

The Home Minister also said the Centre had provided Chandigarh with 2,152 artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV cameras to strengthen surveillance and improve policing.

Highlighting the force’s achievements, Shah said Chandigarh Police had won 145 medals at the All India Police Duty Meet, including 35 gold, 38 silver and 72 bronze medals.

He also underlined the welfare initiatives undertaken for police personnel and their families. Financial assistance of Rs 8,000 per month was being provided to 130 families of deceased police personnel, while educational and sports scholarships worth around Rs 2.25 crore were also being extended.

Shah said 154 new vehicles had been inducted into the force in 2026, while the housing satisfaction rate among police personnel stood at 48 per cent.