Over 3,000 panchayats in Punjab back anti-drug campaign

In a major show of support for the Punjab government's anti-drug initiative, Yudh Nashian Virudh, over 3,000 panchayats across the state have passed resolutions backing the Punjab Police’s aggressive campaign against drug abuse.

This collective effort marks a crucial step in the ongoing battle to eliminate the drug menace from society.

Launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the campaign has evolved into a grassroots movement, with villages and towns actively participating in the fight against drugs.

Amidst the intensified crackdown on drug traffickers and peddlers, the Punjab Police, led by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, has also initiated a special awareness drive to encourage public cooperation and strengthen the collective resolve to combat this crisis.

Sharing insights on the initiative, Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla stated that police commissioners and senior superintendents (CPs/SSPs) have been directed to organize various awareness programs, including SAMPARK meetings and student interactions, to engage the public, youth, NGOs, and clubs in the anti-drug movement.

He highlighted that since the launch of Yudh Nashian Virudh, 3,022 panchayats have pledged their commitment to fighting drug abuse, supporting rehabilitation initiatives, and strengthening police-public partnerships to eradicate drugs from society.

According to the Special DGP, the overwhelming public support has reinforced the Punjab Police’s enforcement efforts, leading to intensified raids across the state.

Detailing the latest developments, he revealed that on Thursday alone, 97 drug smugglers were arrested, and significant quantities of narcotics, including 1.5 kg of heroin, 100 grams of opium, 2 kg of ganja, and ₹1.86 lakh in drug money, were seized. In the past 20 days, a total of 2,463 individuals have been arrested, underscoring the ongoing crackdown on drug networks.

Special DGP Arpit Shukla further stated that more than 200 police teams, consisting of over 1,300 personnel and supervised by 84 gazetted officers, conducted raids at 440 locations across Punjab, leading to the registration of 58 FIRs. Additionally, police teams examined 478 suspicious individuals as part of the day-long operation.

He emphasized that the state government has adopted a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to tackle the drug crisis. As part of the de-addiction effort, Punjab Police has convinced seven individuals to seek rehabilitation, while 103 awareness events have been organized to prevent drug abuse.

In a parallel effort, Punjab Police also carried out extensive searches in jails across six districts—Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Commissionerate Jalandhar, Kapurthala, and Rupnagar—to curb illegal activities. “Our police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner, including barracks, kitchens, and toilets, to ensure strict vigilance inside the jail premises,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.