Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo Chairs 15th UT-Level NCORD Meeting; Calls for AI-Driven Tools, Stronger Enforcement, and Higher Conviction Rates to Curb Drug Menace
SRINAGAR: Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo today chaired the 15th Union Territory-level Narco Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting to review ongoing efforts and inter-departmental coordination aimed at eradicating drug trafficking and substance abuse across Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was attended by the Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education), Director General of Police (DGP), Additional Director General of Police (CID), Principal Secretary (Home Department), and other senior civil and police officials. Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) from all districts joined via video conference.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary underscored the need to strengthen legal and institutional mechanisms to ensure higher conviction rates under the NDPS Act. He directed the Police and Law Departments to formulate a strategy to enhance prosecution effectiveness and minimize procedural lapses.
To improve case quality, the Chief Secretary called for the development of an AI-enabled tool to assist in preparing foolproof charge sheets, tasking IGP Jammu to lead this initiative in coordination with the Law and Prosecution Departments.
He also directed that bails and acquittals in commercial quantity cases be promptly challenged and ordered the formulation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for investigating and prosecuting officers.
Highlighting the need for vigilance in the health sector, Dulloo called for a robust tracking system for prescriptions issued to de-addiction patients to prevent misuse of controlled medicines. He instructed the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) to expedite testing and ensure timely, credible reporting.
The Chief Secretary further directed a review of pending NDPS cases, identification of procedural delays, and focused capacity-building programmes for investigating officers, prosecutors, and legal personnel.
Emphasizing youth protection, Dulloo instructed intensified surveillance around drug hotspots, especially near coaching centres and private institutions, and ordered mapping of backward and forward linkages in every case to dismantle entire supply chains. He also recommended cancellation of driving licences of habitual offenders and reiterated the government’s zero-tolerance stance on narcotics.
All districts were instructed to convene NCORD meetings regularly, ensure participation of senior officials, and upload proceedings on the national portal without delay.
The meeting also reviewed Action Taken Reports (ATRs) on previous directives, including the status of investigations, invocation of the PITNDPS Act, trials in absentia, and the functioning of de-addiction and rehabilitation centres.
The Chief Secretary directed the Health Department to strengthen manpower in de-addiction facilities, train medical officers at IMHANS, and engage psychiatrists on academic arrangements. He also emphasized establishing in-patient (IPD) de-addiction units in more district hospitals.
The Additional Chief Secretary (Higher Education) suggested sustained awareness campaigns in educational institutions to keep campuses drug-free. The DGP reaffirmed the police’s commitment to dismantling cross-border narcotics networks, while the Principal Secretary (Home) presented a detailed analysis of pending investigations and district-level NCORD activities.
ADGP (CID) stressed the importance of timely FSL reports, while ADGP (Crime) Sujit K. Singh presented operational data, revealing that as of September 2025:
1,342 NDPS cases were registered, with 1,305 challaned, resulting in 142 convictions and 197 acquittals.
215 PITNDPS detentions were executed, 222 hotspots identified (44 demolished), and 1,350 individuals placed under surveillance.
983 CCTVs were installed, and 67 financial probes led to attachment of 81 properties worth ₹16.64 crore.
Nearly 99% of retail pharmacies now use computerized billing and CCTV surveillance.
The Health Secretary informed that over 32,000 patients availed OPD services and 551 IPD admissions were recorded at de-addiction centres since January 2025. Training programmes for teachers, SHG members, and frontline workers are also underway.
Concluding the meeting, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to a drug-free Jammu and Kashmir, urging all departments to adopt technology-driven, preventive, and coordinated approaches in the fight against narcotics.
