Punjab Health minister calls for protecting drug inspectors

Chandigarh, June 22 (UNI) Punjab Health Minister Lakshmi Kanta Chawla has asked the senior police officers to protect health officials and drug inspectors conducting raids for recovering unauthorised drugs and other intoxicants from chemists and pharmaceutical firms.

In a communication to Patiala Range DIG Paramjit Singh today, she said that drug inspectors and health officials who are involved in raid operations were being threatening of 'dire consequences' by chemists. Fearing legal action, the owner of certain firms and chemists were out to harm the health officials, even to the extent of eliminating them, she claimed.

She has asked the police to remain vigilant, alert and take strict action against those issuing such threats.

She has urged the police officers to take immediate action and help the government in breaking the "sale-purchase nexus". Huge stocks of habit forming drugs and intoxicants had been recovered from Mansa and Patiala recently, she added.

Raids and surprise checks to book chemists and firms supplying such drugs would continue, she said.

UNI