Chandigarh

Reaffirming his dedication to eradicating drugs from Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann inaugurated the new Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) office and launched an anti-drug helpline and WhatsApp Chatbot (9779100200) on Wednesday. The Chief Minister explained that the state’s top drug enforcement unit will now be known as the Anti-Narcotics Task Force, replacing the previous Special Task Force.

Located on the second floor of a police station in Sector 79, Mohali, the office has been recently renovated at a cost of Rs 90 lakh. Mann highlighted that the new helpline and chatbot will play a crucial role in the fight against drugs. They will allow citizens to report drug traffickers and provide support for those seeking addiction treatment, while ensuring the confidentiality of informants.

The Chief Minister stressed that the ANTF is not just a rebranded unit but a significantly enhanced force with additional staff, resources, and technology. The number of personnel will be increased from 400 to 861, part of a broader expansion in the Police Department.

The government has allocated Rs 12 crore for 2024-25 to develop the ANTF’s new Intelligence and Technical Unit with advanced technology. Additionally, a one-acre plot in Mohali will be dedicated for the ANTF’s headquarters, with Rs 10 crore from the Punjab State Cancer and Drug Addiction Treatment Infrastructure Fund (CADA Fund) set aside for the task force’s operations and de-addiction strategies.