Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said Chandigarh would become India’s first drug-free city and urged its police force to make the fight against drug abuse a priority.Speaking at Chandigarh Police’s 60th Raising Day event, Shah praised the force’s conviction rate and response time, and announced that the Centre would provide 2,152 cameras equipped with artificial intelligence to strengthen security.“Now that we have resolved to build a drug-free India, Chandigarh will be the first city in the country to become drug-free,” he said.“We can move towards a Viksit Bharat only by freeing the younger generation from the menace of drugs,” he added. Shah presented the President’s Colour to Chandigarh Police in recognition of its six decades of service.

He said the force, with around 6,000 personnel, had worked tirelessly since 1966 to protect the city and contribute to national security.SHAH HAILS 85 PER CENT CONVICTION RATEReferring to the three new criminal laws, Shah said Chandigarh Police had registered 8,206 FIRs between August 4, 2024, and Sunday, and filed online chargesheets in 7,590 cases. He described this as a national record.

Shah said the force had secured an 85 per cent conviction rate, setting an example for police units across the country.“I believe this serves as an ideal for the country and all its police units that if we implement the new judicial codes effectively, we can ensure punishment for 85 per cent of criminals. Chandigarh has proven this by doing it,” he said.Contrasting this with delays under the old laws, Shah invoked the phrase “tareekh pe tareekh”, saying cases had sometimes dragged on for years or even generations.“Today, I want to tell you that the 85 per cent conviction rate achieved by Chandigarh has an average punishment timeline of just 140 days.

It means completing the entire judicial process in less than six months and putting the accused behind bars,” he said.MORE CAMERAS, VEHICLES FOR POLICEShah said the Centre would provide Chandigarh with 2,152 AI-equipped cameras to improve public safety.“With this, Chandigarh will become even safer, and we will be able to firmly ensure the safety of the citizens,” he said.Another 141 vehicles were being inducted into the police fleet on Sunday to strengthen patrolling, mobility and rapid response. Shah said Chandigarh Police ranked second nationally for response time and would move to first place with the additions.He said the Quick Response Team took 10 minutes to respond, while the police response time was four minutes.PRAISE FOR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT, PUBLIC SERVICESShah said policing involved making services accessible to citizens alongside tackling terrorism, drug trafficking and cybercrime, and maintaining law and order.Chandigarh residents did not need to visit a police station for services such as passport verification, police clearance certificates and employment-related no-objection certificates, he said.Despite the Union Territory having one of the country’s highest vehicle densities, Shah praised its traffic management.“Before and after becoming the Union home minister, I have visited Chandigarh several times, with and without official protocol, but I have never witnessed a traffic jam here,” he said.Shah also recalled Chandigarh Police’s role during the years of terrorism, saying its personnel had shown extraordinary courage in protecting the city and contributing to the country’s security.Paying tribute to personnel killed in the line of duty, he said their sacrifice was a matter of immense pride for the force.- Ends