With drug addiction high in Punjab, the army has introduced drug detection tests in the the recruitment rallies being held in the state.
The tests are been carried out on those who are suspected by the army to have taken performance enhancement drugs. Army sources said such test is limited to the rallies being held in Punjab as of now.
"The drug test kit costs just about Rs 250. Any person we suspect to have taken drugs are tested," a senior Army official said. The tests were introduced earlier this year and so far 8-10 recruitment rallies have been held in the state.
Asked if such tests are being carried out elsewhere too, the official said, "No. It is currently limited to Punjab only as a precautionary measure." The test are done following the physical tests. Sources said Punjab is one of the biggest centres for the army for recruitment.
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal had on Monday sought support of the central government for checking the flow of drugs into the state.
Addressing a gathering in Phagwara, Badal had said the curse of drugs was one of the biggest problems being faced by the country in general and Punjab in particular. Punjab has become one of the main conduit points for international drug traffickers. A large amount of narcotics from Afghanistan makes it way into Punjab from where it reaches other destinations in the country before it is smuggled out.
Meanwhile, talking about the violence by candidates after cancellation of an army recruitment rally in Gwalior, army sources said the law and order is the domain of the local administration and police. They said the army has to inform the administration and the arrangement for law and order is carried out by the police only and not by it.
