CHANDIGARH, March 13: Punjab Police arrested 147 drug smugglers in a statewide crackdown on Thursday as part of “Yudh Nashian Virudh,” Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s anti-drug campaign.
Raids at 578 locations led to the registration of 95 FIRs, pushing the total number of arrests under the operation to 1,821 in just 13 days.
Police recovered 2.8 kg of heroin, 7.9 kg of poppy husk, 4,960 intoxicant pills/injections, and ₹3.78 lakh in drug money.
Special Director General of Police (DGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said 270 teams, involving over 2,400 personnel and 103 senior officers, conducted searches across 28 police districts, checking 917 suspicious persons.
In Sangrur, Additional DGP (NRI Affairs) Praveen Kumar Sinha led raids in Bazigar Basti, Dhuri, alongside SSP Sartaj Singh Chahal.
CM Mann has directed police chiefs and district officials to make Punjab drug-free within three months. The government has also formed a five-member cabinet subcommittee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to oversee the effort.
“The government is enforcing a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP),” said Shukla, adding that eight individuals were convinced to undergo rehabilitation, and 158 awareness programs were held.
