As part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh” launched by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police on Monday carried out raids at 356 different sites across the state for the 156th consecutive day. These operations led to the arrest of 87 drug traffickers and the registration of 63 FIRs. With this, the total number of arrests in the campaign has risen to 24,592 over the past 156 days.
The raids also led to the seizure of 967 grams of heroin, 267 kg of poppy husk, and 1,869 intoxicating tablets/capsules from those apprehended.
These coordinated raids were conducted across all 28 police districts of Punjab following directives from Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has tasked Police Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police with making Punjab a drug-free state. A five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has also been formed to oversee the campaign’s progress.
Providing further details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that over 180 police teams—comprising more than 1,200 personnel and overseen by 75 gazetted officers—carried out the statewide operations. During the day-long action, police also interrogated 377 individuals suspected of involvement in drug activities.
The Special DGP added that the state government is implementing a three-pronged strategy of Enforcement, Deaddiction, and Prevention (EDP). As part of the de-addiction efforts, Punjab Police successfully persuaded 55 individuals to begin treatment for rehabilitation today.