New Delhi, Nov 6: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday said the Government has resolved to make India completely drug-free by December 31, 2029.
Addressing the force at the President’s Colour investiture ceremony in Dehradun, Shah said drug trafficking was a serious challenge facing the country and stressed that efforts to combat the menace must continue with determination. He appreciated the Uttarakhand Police for its work in tackling drug trafficking and cybercrime and expressed confidence that Devbhoomi would also become drug-free within the next three years.
Shah also highlighted the country’s progress in combating Naxalism, saying coordinated efforts by state police forces and central armed police forces had helped overcome the five-decade-old menace. However, he cautioned against complacency and called for sustained efforts to address emerging security challenges.
On the occasion, Shah presented the President’s Colour to the Uttarakhand Police, making it the 16th police force in the country to receive the prestigious honour. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and other dignitaries were present.
Congratulating the force, Shah said the recognition was a moment of pride for all personnel who had served since the formation of the state 25 years ago. He said the force had adopted “Karm Satyam Shauryam” as its guiding principle and made these values the foundation of its service.
He paid tribute to 206 Uttarakhand Police personnel who had sacrificed their lives in the line of duty, saying the honour reflected the dedication, discipline, valour and professionalism of the force.
Shah said the Uttarakhand Police had grown from 13,000 personnel to more than 26,000 and had consistently responded to natural disasters, including forest fires, landslides and tunnel rescue operations. He particularly recalled its role in rescuing workers trapped in the Silkyara tunnel and responding to disasters in Dharali, Tharali, Syanchatti and Maldevta.
He also highlighted the force’s role in ensuring the safety of pilgrims visiting the Char Dham, Hemkund Sahib, Kainchi Dham and Kumbh Mela, besides tourists from across the country and abroad.
Referring to criminal justice reforms, Shah said Uttarakhand had made significant progress in implementing the new criminal laws. He expressed confidence that cases registered after May 2027 would see the process of securing convictions completed within three years.
He said Uttarakhand Police had secured the top national position on the CCTNS/ICJS 2.0 Dashboard with a score of 93.46. The integration of police, courts, forensic laboratories, prosecution agencies and jails, he said, would help ensure speedy justice.
Shah also appreciated the force for becoming the first state police organisation in the country to scale Mount Everest. He noted that it had won 37 medals at the World Police and Fire Games and urged it to aim for the top position at the next edition in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
He said the President’s Colour would boost the morale of the force and give fresh momentum to its commitment to public service. He also extended greetings to the people on Dhanteras and Diwali.