Hyderabad, April 10 – Hyderabad police have started conducting drug tests on all known criminals within the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate's jurisdiction.
The Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) has decided to crack down on individuals with criminal records or known troublemakers.
Police have identified 1,300 such individuals across the commissionerate, sources said on Friday.
Initially, officials conducted tests on 250 of these individuals, and 190 tested positive. The majority were found to be using ganja (cannabis). Those who tested positive were sent to de-addiction centers.
H-NEW took this step because they believe there is a strong link between drug abuse and rising crime. Many repeat offenders are said to be addicted to drugs. This is seen as a major contributing factor to the increase in crime.
Officials believe that drug tests will help the police identify the sources of supply to repeat offenders.
H-NEW is conducting a thorough investigation to trace the sources of psychotropic substances. Officials hope to identify suppliers and distribution networks.
This initiative is part of the government's efforts to make Telangana a drug-free state.
The Elite Action Group for Drug Law Enforcement (EAGLE) Force, a special wing of the Telangana police, has been conducting raids at various locations to curb the drug menace.
Police had already initiated measures to keep a close watch on known criminals.
Recently, Hyderabad Police Commissioner, VC Sajjanar, surprised everyone with an unscheduled visit to the homes of known criminals to check their criminal records, current lifestyle, and serve them a warning against engaging in criminal activities.
Without any siren or noise, he went directly to the homes of known criminals in MD Lines, Hashim Nagar, and Defence Colonies.
The top cop woke up the known criminals and enquired about their criminal history, current lifestyle, source of income, and social behavior.
The Police Commissioner warned them that strict action would be taken if they resorted to crimes again. They were advised to abandon their criminal tendencies and adopt a more positive path.
