With the ongoing anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’—launched under the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann—making a significant impact, intelligence reports indicate that the campaign's success has unsettled Pakistan’s ISI.
In response, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, reaffirmed on Monday that Punjab Police will not allow any forces to disrupt the state's hard-earned peace and stability.
“Punjab Police will not allow Pak-ISI to destabilise the border state and will ensure exemplary punishment to anyone trying to disturb the peace and harmony of the state,” said the DGP, citing the recent neutralisation of the key accused in the Thakur Dwara Mandir attack in Amritsar during a retaliatory police operation.
Addressing the media after a high-level meeting with senior officials—including Special DGPs, Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs), and Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs)—DGP Yadav highlighted that the decisive crackdown on drugs has forced traffickers to retreat. Many drug couriers are now hesitant to collect consignments dropped by Pakistan-based handlers, leading to a noticeable decline in heroin supply across the border.
“The impact of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ is undeniable. Our intelligence confirms that drug couriers are now hesitant to collect heroin packets dropped by Pakistani smugglers, signalling a major disruption in the supply chain,” he stated.
DGP Yadav further elaborated that the campaign strategically targets street-level drug peddlers and smugglers, while ensuring that victims of drug addiction receive necessary treatment at de-addiction centres rather than facing harassment. Senior police officials—ranging from Special DGPs to DIGs—are overseeing these operations, ensuring strict action is taken across all districts.
He also praised the cabinet sub-committee's efforts in coordinating various departments to combat the drug menace. Notably, the Punjab government has formed a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to monitor and guide the ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ campaign.
To further strengthen the initiative, DGP Yadav announced the launch of a district-level mapping program to assess the prevalence of different drugs across regions. This data-driven approach will help formulate targeted action plans to effectively combat drug abuse.
Additionally, all field officers—from Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to Station House Officers (SHOs)—are being assigned quantifiable targets to ensure a measurable and results-driven approach to the anti-drug campaign.
Providing an update on the campaign’s progress, DGP Yadav revealed that in just 17 days since March 1, 2025, Punjab Police has arrested 2,575 drug smugglers and registered 1,651 first information reports (FIRs). The police have seized 95 kg of heroin, 52 kg of opium, 1,129 kg of poppy husk, 13.79 kg of ganja, 7.25 lakh intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, 1 kg of ICE, 1.37 kg of cocaine, and ₹64 lakh in drug money.
He also highlighted the growing success of the newly launched Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline ‘9779100200’, which enables citizens to report drug traffickers anonymously. The helpline has seen a significant increase in public participation in recent days.
Expressing gratitude to the people of Punjab for their support in making this campaign successful, DGP Yadav emphasized that public cooperation is essential for achieving long-term success. He noted that Punjab Police has been engaging communities through meetings with local residents and village defense committees to raise awareness and strengthen vigilance.
In addition, he mentioned that initiatives such as YUVA Saanjh and various sports programs are being reinforced to positively channelize the energy of Punjab’s youth, steering them away from drugs and towards constructive activities.
