Punjab's anti-drug campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' leads to 84 arrests

With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 41st day, Punjab Police on Thursday arrested 84 drug smugglers and recovered 2.5 kg heroin, 86 kg poppy husk, and ₹70400 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 5621 in just 41 days.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 200 Police teams, comprising over 1200 police personnel, under the supervision of 86 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 452 locations across the state leading to the registration of 49 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 482 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.

The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced two persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala, Patiala, Sangrur and SAS Nagar— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.