Telangana DGP: Drug traffickers more dangerous than terrorists, zero tolerance vowed
Synopsis
Telangana's top cop has drawn a stark line: drug traffickers are now to be treated as more dangerous than terrorists. With Bhadradri Kothagudem's cross-border geography making it a ganja smuggling hotspot, DGP C.V. Anand's zero-tolerance declaration — backed by a 2029 drug-free target — marks one of the state's most aggressive anti-narcotics postures yet.
Key Takeaways
Anand declared on 6 July that drug traffickers will be treated as more dangerous than extremists and terrorists.
Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam districts identified as critical flashpoints due to borders with Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh .
Police directed to intensify surveillance at bus stations, railway stations, and check posts using Dog Squads .
DGP cited the Punjab drug crisis as a warning and urged officers to prevent a similar situation in Telangana.
Telangana has set a target of becoming a drug-free state by December 2029 with public participation.
Officers instructed to upload all case records to the CCTNS platform to improve investigation speed and conviction rates.
Telangana Director General of Police C.V. Anand on Monday, 6 July declared that drug traffickers will be treated as more dangerous than extremists and terrorists, and that drug offenders will face even stricter action under the law. The announcement came during a District Crime Review Meeting chaired by the DGP at the Bhadradri Kothagudem District Police Office, signalling a sharp escalation in the state's anti-narcotics posture.
Key Directives from the DGP
DGP Anand directed district police to intensify action against ganja cultivation, transportation, and illegal trade across Bhadradri Kothagudem and Khammam districts. He specifically called for strengthened surveillance at bus stations, railway stations, and check posts, with Dog Squads deployed at vulnerable locations to intercept trafficking networks.
He also instructed officers to improve investigation quality, file charge sheets without delay, and enhance conviction rates. Complete case records and digital evidence are to be uploaded to the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS) platform to accelerate investigation and trial processes.
Why Bhadradri Kothagudem Is a Critical Flashpoint
The DGP noted that Bhadradri Kothagudem shares borders with both Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, making it a significant entry corridor for ganja trafficking into Telangana. Effective enforcement in this district and neighbouring Khammam, he said, would be decisive in strengthening anti-drug operations statewide.
Notably, the district is also an important industrial zone, which the DGP said demands focused policing and intelligence-based operations to prevent crime from taking root alongside economic activity.
The Punjab Warning and the Youth Crisis
Expressing serious concern over rising narcotic drug abuse among the youth, DGP Anand explicitly invoked the drug crisis in Punjab as a cautionary example. He urged officers to take proactive steps to prevent Telangana from facing a similar trajectory, warning that unchecked drug abuse poses a generational threat.
This comes amid broader national anxiety over narcotics proliferation in states bordering traditional smuggling corridors — a pattern that Telangana's border geography makes particularly relevant.
The 2029 Drug-Free Telangana Target
DGP Anand reiterated the state government's commitment to making Telangana a drug-free state by December 2029, with active public participation central to the strategy. He emphasised that the Telangana Police would wage an 'uncompromising war' against drug networks and pursue offenders regardless of whether they are located within the country or abroad.
Superintendent of Police Rohith Raj presented a detailed review of the district's crime statistics, covering ganja cases, cybercrime, women's safety, road safety, Left Wing Extremism-related developments, and progress in criminal investigations. All eyes will now be on whether the DGP's directives translate into measurable enforcement outcomes in the months ahead.
Point of View
But it carries real operational weight — it signals that the Telangana Police will apply the same intelligence-led, no-bail-default framework used against extremists to narcotics networks. The Punjab parallel is pointed: that state's drug crisis festered for years before political will caught up with the scale of the problem. Bhadradri Kothagudem's triple-border exposure makes it structurally vulnerable, and the DGP's focus on that district suggests the state has identified its weakest link. The 2029 drug-free target is ambitious; the real test will be whether conviction rates — not just arrest numbers — actually rise.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Telangana DGP C.V. Anand say about drug traffickers?
DGP C.V. Anand declared on 6 July that drug traffickers will be treated as more dangerous than extremists and terrorists, and that they will face even stricter legal action under the law. He made the remarks while chairing a District Crime Review Meeting in Bhadradri Kothagudem.
Why is Bhadradri Kothagudem a focus of Telangana's anti-drug drive?
Bhadradri Kothagudem shares borders with both Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, making it a critical entry corridor for ganja trafficking into Telangana. The DGP identified effective enforcement in this district as decisive for statewide anti-drug operations.
What is Telangana's drug-free state target?
The Telangana government has set a target of making the state drug-free by December 2029, with active public participation as a key component of the strategy.
What enforcement measures did the DGP direct?
The DGP directed police to deploy Dog Squads at bus stations, railway stations, and check posts, intensify action against ganja cultivation and transport, improve charge-sheet filing speed, and upload all digital evidence to the CCTNS platform to accelerate trials.
Why did the DGP refer to Punjab in his address?
DGP Anand cited Punjab's severe drug addiction crisis as a cautionary example, urging Telangana officers to take proactive steps to prevent the state from facing a similar social and public health emergency driven by narcotics abuse.
