As part of the ongoing “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” campaign launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eliminate the drug problem in Punjab, the 49th day saw Punjab Police arrest 124 drug smugglers and seize 2.5 kg of heroin along with ₹2.02 lakh in drug-related funds. This brings the total number of arrests to 6,573 in just 49 days.
The operation, directed by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, spanned the entire state. Police teams carried out special cordon and search operations (CASO) in all 28 districts from 3 pm to 6 pm on the same day.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has instructed local authorities, including Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police, to work toward making Punjab a drug-free state. To support this effort, the Punjab government has formed a 5-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to oversee the fight against drugs.
Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla shared that over 200 police teams, comprising more than 1,400 officers under the supervision of 92 gazetted officers, conducted raids at 464 locations, leading to 77 FIRs being filed. Additionally, 490 suspicious individuals were checked during the operation.
Shukla also highlighted the state’s three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to combat drugs. Under the “De-addiction” part of the strategy, three individuals were persuaded to seek treatment and rehabilitation.
Furthermore, the Punjab Police conducted search operations at six district jails—Amritsar Commissionerate, Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Batala, Amritsar Rural, and Tarn Taran—to uncover any illegal activities. Shukla confirmed that every part of the jails, including barracks, kitchens, and toilets, had been thoroughly searched.