Chandigarh: In order to curb the drug menace in the state, the Punjab goverment in March made dope test mandatory for applicants seeking for weapons. A series of drug tests revealed that a sizeable number of people are drug addicts.
Out of the 1,100 applicants on whom the dope tests were conducted at a Ludhiana hospital, 200 were hooked to drugs.
Ludhiana district alone has 17,000 licence holders. Once the licences are up for approval, further dope tests can reveal more about the spread of drugs in Punjab.
The dope tests will also be applicable for those seeking renewal of licence.
The Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice had in July 2016, notified that an applicant needs to be examined if he or she is mentally and physically healthy to possess arms licence. The examination must make “clear mention that the applicant is not dependent on any intoxicating or narcotic substance”.
A spate of violent crimes under the influence of liquor or other drugs has also seen a rise in Punjab.
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