The North News
Chandigarh, June 19
Punjab Police have intensified their campaign against drug trafficking with the arrest of 132 alleged smugglers in a single day, marking the 110th day of the state’s ongoing “Yudh Nashian Virudh” (War Against Drugs) initiative. Launched under the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the anti-narcotics drive has seen the detention of 18,236 individuals since its inception. Thursday’s action also led to the seizure of 1.08 kg of heroin and ₹87,540 in suspected drug money.
The state-wide operation was coordinated on the instructions of Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav, and carried out across all 28 police districts. Over 220 police teams—comprising more than 1,500 personnel and supervised by 96 gazetted officers—executed raids at 544 locations. The effort resulted in the registration of 100 FIRs and the interrogation of 571 individuals identified as suspicious.
Chief Minister Mann has consistently underscored the importance of ridding Punjab of its long-standing drug problem, instructing Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents to treat the mission as a top priority. The state has also formed a five-member cabinet subcommittee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to oversee progress.
Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said the momentum of the campaign demonstrates the administration’s resolve to uproot the drug trade. “This has been a sustained and focused drive with a zero-tolerance approach,” he added.
The state government has been under increasing pressure to deliver tangible outcomes in its war on drugs, as addiction and trafficking continue to afflict many regions of Punjab, particularly among its youth.
