Telangana Eagle Force wins national anti-narcotics award, scores 80%+ on 7 key parameters
Synopsis
Telangana's Eagle Force has claimed a rare double — top national rankings in both cybercrime and anti-narcotics performance. Scoring above 80% on all seven Union Government parameters, the state received its award directly from Home Minister Amit Shah at the NCB's third national ANTF conference, signalling that its integrated prosecution-and-intelligence model is being held up as a template for other states.
Key Takeaways
Telangana Eagle Force secured more than 80% marks across seven Union Government parameters for anti-narcotics performance.
Eagle Force Director Sandeep Sandilya received the national award from Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on 22 September 2026 .
The award was presented at the third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force Heads organised by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) .
Telangana has now ranked first nationally in two police priority areas — cybercrime and anti-narcotics performance.
Anand credited coordinated efforts of the Eagle Force, district police, and support departments, and pledged continued focus on enforcement and prevention.
Telangana's Eagle Force and Narcotics Bureau have earned national-level recognition for their anti-drug efforts, securing more than 80% marks across seven performance parameters set by the Union Government for evaluating Anti-Narcotics Task Forces (ANTFs). Eagle Force Director Sandeep Sandilya received the award on behalf of Telangana Police from Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force Heads in New Delhi on 22 September 2026.
What the National Conference Covered
The two-day conference, held from 22–23 September under the aegis of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), brought together senior officers from across India to deliberate on coordinated strategies against drug trafficking, strengthen inter-agency cooperation, and enhance the country's overall anti-narcotics framework.
Seven Parameters That Determined the Score
Telangana's performance was assessed on seven key criteria: intelligence operations; control of precursors and synthetic drugs; prosecution; demand and harm reduction; coordination and capacity building; research and analysis; and administration and logistics. The state surpassed 80% across all seven, according to a statement from the office of the Director General of Police (DGP).
As part of reinforcing prosecution, Telangana has put in place dedicated support mechanisms covering legal scrutiny, judicial analysis, witness protection, and prosecution support — an integrated model that officials say contributed significantly to the high scores.
DGP Anand's Role and Remarks
DGP C.V. Anand had been conducting regular reviews of the Eagle Force, directing district Superintendents of Police and unit officers to treat narcotics enforcement as a top priority. During district visits and review meetings, he consistently emphasised intelligence gathering, investigation of narcotics cases, action against drug networks, and effective prosecution.
Congratulating Eagle Force Director Sandeep Sandilya and his personnel, Anand said that 'protecting future generations from the impact of drugs remained a key objective of the Telangana Government and the Police Department.' He stressed the need for sustained, coordinated efforts to prevent the spread of narcotic substances, particularly among young people.
Telangana Police Now Tops Two National Priority Areas
This recognition places Telangana Police at the top in two of the Union Government's priority areas for state police forces — cybercrime performance and anti-narcotics performance. According to the DGP's office, the department is now focusing on improving rankings in areas where it has lagged, including implementation of national criminal laws, the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS), and the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network and Systems (CCTNS), through a dedicated drive.
The coordinated efforts of the Eagle Force, district police units, and partner departments are expected to be sustained and deepened in the months ahead, with the DGP signalling continued investment in enforcement and preventive mechanisms.
Point of View
But it also raises a pointed question: what separates its model from states that have consistently underperformed? The integrated prosecution-support mechanism — legal scrutiny, judicial analysis, witness protection — points to institutional depth, not just enforcement muscle. The real test will be conviction rates and recidivism data, neither of which featured in the official statement. If Telangana can demonstrate that its high assessment score translates into durable outcomes on the ground, it has a replicable blueprint; if not, the award risks becoming another headline disconnected from street-level drug availability.
NationPress
22 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What award did Telangana Police receive at the NCB conference?
Telangana Police received a national-level recognition for anti-narcotics performance, presented by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the third National Conference of Anti-Narcotics Task Force Heads in New Delhi on 22 September 2026. The state's Eagle Force and Narcotics Bureau scored above 80% across all seven Union Government assessment parameters for Anti-Narcotics Task Forces.
What are the seven parameters on which state ANTFs were assessed?
The seven parameters are: intelligence operations; control of precursors and synthetic drugs; prosecution; demand and harm reduction; coordination and capacity building; research and analysis; and administration and logistics. Telangana scored more than 80% on each of these criteria according to the DGP's office.
Who received the award on behalf of Telangana Police?
Eagle Force Director Sandeep Sandilya received the national recognition on behalf of Telangana Police from Union Home Minister Amit Shah at the NCB conference in New Delhi.
In how many national priority areas does Telangana Police now rank first?
Telangana Police now ranks first in two of the Union Government's priority areas for state police forces — cybercrime performance and anti-narcotics performance. The department is working to improve in areas such as ICJS and CCTNS implementation.
What role did DGP C.V. Anand play in this achievement?
DGP C.V. Anand regularly reviewed the Eagle Force's functioning and directed district Superintendents of Police and unit officers to prioritise narcotics enforcement. He emphasised intelligence gathering, case investigation, action against drug networks, and effective prosecution during district visits and review meetings.
