Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], March 23 (HBTV): As part of the ongoing anti-drug campaign 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from the state, Punjab Police on Saturday arrested 75 drug smugglers and recovered 5.2 kg of heroin, 10 kg of opium, and INR 2.2 lakh in drug money.

With this, the total number of drug smugglers arrested in the past 22 days has risen to 2,613. The operation was conducted simultaneously across all 28 police districts of the state, following directives from Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has instructed Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to intensify efforts to make Punjab a drug-free state. The Punjab government has also formed a five-member Cabinet Subcommittee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to monitor the anti-drug initiative.

Providing further details, Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said that over 250 police teams, comprising more than 1,700 personnel under the supervision of 98 gazetted officers, conducted raids at 536 locations across the state. These operations led to the registration of 51 first information reports (FIRs). Additionally, police teams interrogated 601 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.

The Special DGP stated that the state government has adopted a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to eliminate drugs. As part of the de-addiction initiative, Punjab Police has persuaded four individuals to undergo rehabilitation and treatment.

(ANI)