Punjab's campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' arrests 8 operatives and seizes 4 kg of heroin

The ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ Cabinet Sub-Committee Chairman Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the arrest of eight key operatives including one official from an enforcement agency who belongs to Rohtak in Haryana, and recovery of 4 kg Heroin from their possession by Amritsar police, raises serious concerns about the involvement of enforcement officers from other states in the drug trade within Punjab.

Addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema assured that an in-depth investigation would be conducted to identify the head of this gang, with strict legal action to follow, regardless of their position.

The Finance Minister said that the Punjab Government is fulfilling its responsibility to curb drug trafficking at the border, but the Union Government seems to be failing in its duties.

Sharing the updates of the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign, the Finance Minister revealed that the extensive campaign resulted in the registration of 3,279 cases under the NDPS Act and the arrest of 5,537 individuals in past 41 days.

He said that the significant seizures under this campaign include 212 kg of heroin, 6,945 kg of poppy husk, 105 kg of opium, 50 kg of ganja, 6 kg of charas, and nearly 9 lakh banned tablets and capsules. Additionally, drug money worth approximately Rs 6 crore has been recovered, and illegal properties of 57 drug smugglers have been demolished to teach them a befitting lesson.

Highlighting the rally in Ludhiana led by Aam Aadmi Party National Convener Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Finance Minister said that the campaign succeeded in mobilizing youth across villages and cities. He said that the Panch-Sarpanch and municipal councilors are actively participating in this campaign against drug trade. He said that this is for the first time that a budget has been allocated in the Punjab budget for anti-drone system and drug census to strengthen the action against drugs.

He said that apart from this, a budget of about Rs 980 crore has been allocated to promote sports and steer youth away from drugs. He questioned that the scourge of drugs has also spread in other states of the country as well, but has any state led by Congress or BJP ever initiated such an action?

In a sharp critique of previous state governments, the Finance Minister accused the Akali Dal-BJP coalition and Congress governments of failing to address the drug crisis.

He pointed out that despite promises by former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to eradicate drugs within four weeks, the problem persisted. “In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party-led government has been working tirelessly for the past three years to combat the drug menace, with the ‘Yudh nashian Virudh’ campaign representing a decisive effort to eliminate this scourge”. He added.