LAHAUL, July 23 —Punjab Police officer SP Gurjot Singh Kaler scaled the 6,080-metre-high Shinkun East Peak in Himachal Pradesh’s Lahaul region on July 20, unfurling the national flag alongside a banner for the state’s flagship anti-drug campaign, Yudh Nasheyan Virudh (War Against Drugs).
The summit climb — involving a grueling, uninterrupted ascent of 1,500 metres through snow-covered ridges, deep crevasses and the punishing effects of high altitude — was undertaken to spread a message of resistance against drug abuse to even the highest frontiers.
“Climbing this peak was not just a personal goal, but a way of reminding ourselves and our youth that the fight against drugs must reach every frontier,” Kaler said after the summit. “This banner at 6,000 metres stands for a Punjab that rises above addiction and walks the path of hope.”
Kaler, currently on deputation in Manipur to supervise Special Investigation Teams probing ethnic conflict, said the mission was a symbolic effort to amplify the state’s determination to combat drug addiction — a crisis that continues to impact thousands of families in Punjab.
The expedition was supported by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Mountaineering and Allied Sports (ABVIMAS), Manali, under the guidance of Avinash Negi. A team of seasoned instructors — Ludar Singh, Desh Raj, Bhag Singh, Dina Nath, Bhuvi and Frady — helped fix climbing routes and ensured safety during the demanding ascent.
While the full expedition included nearly 60 climbers, the final summit push was made by a core team of six, whose photograph atop the snowbound peak — holding the Indian Tricolour and the anti-drug banner — captured a bold and visual message of resilience.
The Punjab Police and the Department of Health and Family Welfare jointly launched Yudh Nasheyan Virudh, and Kaler’s high-altitude feat is among the most striking visual tributes to the campaign so far.
