NEWS

• The Karnataka government has constituted an Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) to address the growing drug problem, especially in Bengaluru.
• The move mirrors the structure and function of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB).

HIGHLIGHTS

Oversight & Leadership

• The ANTF will be under the supervision of DG & IGP M A Saleem.
• It will report to Pronab Mohanty, Director General of Police, Cyber Command.

Structure of the Task Force

• Total team size: 56 police personnel
• Officers included:
  • 4 Additional Superintendents of Police
  • 2 Assistant Commissioners of Police
  • 2 Police Inspectors
  • 4 Police Sub-Inspectors
• Officers are drawn from the Anti-Naxal Force, giving the task force experienced personnel.

 Cybercrime Integration

• The government has directed 43 CEN (Cyber, Economic, Narcotics) police stations in Karnataka to actively register cases under:
  • Information Technology Act
  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections related to cyber and computer crimes

 Strategic Focus

• The task force aims to intensify surveillance, coordinate inter-agency action, and curb narcotics trafficking using both field and cyber intelligence tools.