Bhopal Bureau
Mohan Yadav Orders Statewide Crackdown on Drug and Liquor Mafia Ahead of Diwali: summary — Ahead of Diwali, Madhya Pradesh has stepped up action against the drug and illicit liquor trade. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, chairing a high-level meeting with senior police officers at his residence in Bhopal on Tuesday, directed a statewide campaign against the drug mafia, illicit liquor and illegal weapons. Police have been given a free hand to act firmly against offenders, and coordinated action has begun against an illicit liquor network spread across five districts.
High-level meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence
The meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence in Bhopal on Tuesday reviewed the law-and-order situation in the state in detail. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav told senior police officers that action against illegal activities must be taken with full force and firmness. The discussion covered drug trafficking, the transport and storage of illicit liquor, illegal firearms, carbines and explosive material that pose a threat to human life.
The Chief Minister directed that a simultaneous campaign be run across the state to stop the transport and storage of illicit liquor. Anyone found involved in such illegal business will face strict action, he said. Officers were told to act as per the law, without any pressure, and to treat the safety of the common people as the highest priority. The law-and-order review also decided that police vigilance and patrolling will be increased during the festive season, so that any untoward incident can be prevented.
The Khategaon incident behind the crackdown
The backdrop to this high-level meeting is the Khategaon incident in Dewas district. Early on Monday, Khategaon police station in-charge Dilip Puri died on the Indore-Betul highway while trying to intercept a truck allegedly carrying illicit liquor. According to officials, more than 1,800 litres of liquor was hidden in a specially built secret compartment in the truck. The state government has taken a tough stand after this incident.
As soon as information about the incident was received, Minister Narendra Singh Patel was sent to the spot, and Special Director General of Police Upendra Jain was also given necessary directions. The Chief Minister said in the meeting that the government will extend every possible help to the police personnel who lose their lives in the line of duty and to their families. The incident has once again raised the question of how organised and dangerous the illicit liquor network has become, which is why the strategy to dismantle it was discussed in detail.
Simultaneous action across five districts
The meeting was told that the illicit liquor business linked to the Dewas incident is spread across five districts. Following the Chief Minister’s directions, police action has been intensified in all five districts. The truck used to transport the liquor has been seized. Three persons have been arrested so far in the case, including the owner of the truck and the alleged kingpin of the business. The search for the truck driver is still on.
According to police officers, the links of this network spread across five districts are being examined. A strategy of simultaneous action at all three levels — transport, storage and sale — has been prepared, so that no part of the network gets a chance to escape. The Chief Minister told officers that no laxity will be accepted in this campaign. Directions have been given to ensure that the law reaches every person connected with the illicit liquor business.
Financial help and compassionate appointment for the officer’s family
Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has directed financial and employment-related assistance for the family of police station in-charge Dilip Puri, who lost his life in Khategaon. The Chief Minister has directed that his wife be given a compassionate appointment to the post of Sub-Inspector, and that financial assistance of one crore rupees be provided to the family.
The Chief Minister said the government is committed to extending every possible help to the personnel who stake their lives in the line of duty and to their families. This assistance is not limited to financial help alone; it is a concrete step towards securing the family’s future. The compassionate appointment will give the family permanent support, and the financial assistance will help meet immediate needs.
Special vigilance for Diwali
The meeting also issued detailed directions on maintaining law and order during the upcoming Diwali festival. The Chief Minister asked officers to exercise special vigilance to curb illegal activities during Diwali. Directions have been given to exercise full control over the sale of carbide guns and illegal firecrackers. Strict vigil on antisocial elements has also been ordered after Diwali.
The plan is to increase police presence at crowded places, markets and public spots during the festive season. Action has also been ordered against illegally stored explosive material and firecrackers sold without licence. The Chief Minister said it is the police’s responsibility to ensure that common citizens can shop and celebrate the festival safely and without worry. Accountability of the concerned officers will be fixed for any negligence.
Target of a drug-free state by 2029
In the meeting, the Chief Minister reiterated the target of freeing Madhya Pradesh from the drug menace by the year 2029. This target is in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s resolve to take strict action against the drug mafia by 2029. The Chief Minister said an effective action plan should be prepared in the state for the effective implementation of this resolve.
Along with tightening the legal noose around gangs involved in the narcotics business, the strategy to reach the root of the problem was also discussed. Officers were directed to identify the transport routes, storage hideouts and sale networks of the drug trade and take simultaneous action. The Chief Minister said drugs are not merely a law-and-order problem, but an issue linked to the future of the youth and the health of society, which is why the campaign against it must be continuous and decisive.
Free hand to police, accountability for lapses
The Chief Minister has given police officers a free hand to act against criminals. He said no negligence will be accepted in action against law-breakers. Officers were directed to act fearlessly against illicit liquor, narcotics and illegal weapons.
The message from this meeting is clear: the state government does not want any compromise on law and order before the festive season. Simultaneous action in several districts against the illicit liquor and drug network, assistance to the bereaved family, and special vigilance for Diwali are all parts of the same strategy. More results of this campaign are expected in the coming days, and all eyes will be on police action.
Carbide guns were banned earlier too
It is worth noting that strictness against carbide guns and explosive material has been seen in the state earlier as well. In October, the Chief Minister had directed collectors and superintendents of police to completely stop the use of carbide guns and lamps, warning that the concerned officers would be held accountable for accidents. In Bhopal, the Police Commissioner had also issued a prohibitory order for two months on carbide guns, cannons and lamps. The directions given in Tuesday’s meeting carry that strictness forward, so that no untoward incident takes place during Diwali.
Disclaimer: This report has been prepared on the basis of available sources and verification. If any fact is found to be incorrect, a correction will be published.
