The Home Department of the Maharashtra Government has taken a significant step in the fight against drug-related issues by forming the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). This strategic move aims to tackle the drug menace effectively and streamline actions against drug peddlers and networks operating within the state. The formation of ANTF aligns with the directives issued by the Central Government.
Under this initiative, the Maharashtra ANTF will operate under the supervision of the Director General of Police (DGP) and fall under the control and monitoring of the Additional DGP (CID). The ANTF will be led by a Special Inspector General of Police and have its headquarters located at the CID in Pune. Furthermore, a Deputy Inspector General of Police will oversee operations at the headquarters, with three officers of the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP) working in Pune and Nagpur regions.
In the Nagpur region, which encompasses Vidarbha and Marathwada, ANTF will play a crucial role. This region includes the Amravati division, Nagpur/Gadchiroli division, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar division, and Nanded division, covering multiple districts and commissionerates.
- Amravati division will include areas like Amravati Rural, Yavatmal, Buldhana, Akola, Washim, and Amravati Commissionerate.
- Nagpur/Gadchiroli division will cover Nagpur Rural, Wardha, Bhandara, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Aheri, Gondia, and Nagpur Commissionerate.
- Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar division will comprise Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Rural, Jalna, Beed, Osmanabad, and Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar Commissionerate.
- Nanded division will include Nanded, Latur, Parbhani, and Hingoli districts.
Meanwhile, the Pune region ANTF will oversee operations in Konkan division, Kolhapur division, and Nashik division.
- Konkan division will encompass areas like Thane Rural, Palghar, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Thane Commissionerate, Navi Mumbai Commissionerate, and Mira-Bhayander-Vasai-Virar Commissionerate.
- Kolhapur division will include Kolhapur, Satara, Sangli, Solapur Rural, Pune Rural, Pune Commissionerate, Pimpri-Chinchwad Commissionerate, and Solapur Commissionerate.
- Nashik division will cover Nashik Rural, Dhule, Jalgaon, Ahmednagar, Nandurbar, and Nashik Commissionerate.
Each of these divisional units will be headed by an officer of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (ANTF). The Maharashtra ANTF will also serve as the State Secretariat for the Narco Co-ordination Centre, with the DGP having the authority to direct the Special Inspector General of Police (ANTF) to investigate complex cases involving inter-State networks.
The ANTF will shoulder various responsibilities, including combatting illegal narcotics trade and smuggling, tracing the source of narcotics and psychotropic substances, boosting conviction rates in narcotics cases, implementing the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and more. Additionally, the ANTF units will be required to provide monthly reports of their activities to the DGP. If necessary, the ANTF may enlist professional experts and consultative services to aid in investigations, as directed by the Special Inspector General of Police.
