39,000 public meetings turned anti-drug drive into people’s campaign:DGP

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Chandigarh, August 7
The Punjab Police on Friday said that the anti-drug campaign has expanded beyond law enforcement, with more than 39,000 public meetings held across the state since March 2025 to encourage communities to play  greater role in tackling drug abuse.

The outreach programme, launched under the Punjab government’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign, has sought to bring together students, village volunteers, community leaders and police officers, alongside the state’s continuing crackdown on drug traffickers.

Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the fight against drugs could not be won through policing alone.
“The fight against drugs cannot be won through enforcement alone. While Punjab Police remains uncompromising in its action against drug traffickers and organised networks lasting success can only be achieved when communities become equal partners in prevention and awareness,” he said.

According to Punjab Police, more than 10,600 awareness sessions have been organised in schools, colleges and other educational institutions, where students were informed about the dangers of substance abuse, ways to resist peer pressure and the importance of reporting suspicious drug-related activities.

Officials said another 3,303 “Sampark Meetings” have focused largely on young people, providing opportunities to interact directly with police officers, local representatives and community leaders. The discussions also covered de-addiction, rehabilitation and prevention programmes.

The campaign has also relied heavily on village-level participation. The police said over 25,300 meetings have been held with members of Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and Ward Defence Committees across Punjab, reflecting an effort to involve local communities in identifying and preventing drug abuse.

The Punjab currently has around 13,000 Village defence committees with nearly 125,000 volunteers, according to officials. The committees include retired defence personnel, former police officers, teachers, village elders and other community members who work with police and the Health Department to share information on drug-related activities and help people access rehabilitation services.