Nearly 2,500 fail dope test for Punjab constable job

CHANDIGARH: Punjab police have tested 1.12 lakh youths of the state for dope in the past 10 days as a part of its ongoing recruitment drive for the post of a constable. The results of these tests have put the drug addicts at 1.36%—1,524 of the 1.12 lakh who underwent the test. Nearly 900 others have been found to be using performance enhancing drugs.

The dope test comes at a time when the Akali-led government is facing acute criticism over the issue of ‘rampant’ drug addiction in Punjab. Politically, the results of these tests could either give the opposition an upper hand or support the Akali stance that the drug issue has been blown out of proportion.

Conducted by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot, the tests to detect five types of drugs were made mandatory for the selection by the state government. Other than the dope test, the aspirants are undergoing the routine physical ability trials.

However, the initial results seem to be shattering the Opposition’s rant on the extent of drug abuse in the state. The figures so far don’t match the claims of 70% Punjab youth being drug addicts.

Leaders of the Congress as Number of candidates tested positive Opium-based drugs Marijuana Sleeping pills (benzodiazepine) Propoxyphene (pain relievers) More than one drug Performance enhancers (amphetamine) well as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) have been contending that the state’s youth is in the vicious grip of state-sponsored narco chains. The SAD has, however, held that the Opposition is defaming Punjabis for petty political gains and the problem in Punjab is comparable or even lower than some states in India.

The sample size of the dope tests has researchers excited. “From research point of view, this kind of sample is not available with any state. By the end of the process, we will have data of almost 4 lakh men, age group, districts where the numbers are highest and the kind of drugs being consumed. If the police permit us to use the data, we can conduct a seminal work on the problem of drug addiction in the state,” said Dr Arvind Sharma, professor and head, department of psychiatry, BFUHS, Faridkot.

The recruitment drive for 6,000 male constables began on July 28 and will see almost 4.7 lakh youths below 28 years vying for the job.