Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], March 5 (HBTV): Continuing its war against drugs under ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ Punjab Police conducted raids at 524 locations on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of 69 drug smugglers across the state.
According to a release from the Punjab Information and Public Relations Department, this marks the fourth consecutive day of operations aimed at eradicating the drug menace. The raids were carried out in six districts: Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Commissionerate Jalandhar, Kapurthala, and Rupnagar.
As part of the crackdown, 164 pharmaceutical shops were inspected to ensure compliance with regulations and to prevent the sale of intoxicant tablets or other habit-forming drugs.
During the cordon and search operation (CASO) conducted across 524 locations, Punjab Police registered 53 FIRs and arrested 69 drug smugglers, bringing the total number of arrests in the past four days to 472. The raids also resulted in the recovery of 1.5 kg of heroin, 100 grams of opium, 7,610 intoxicant tablets, pills, and injections, along with INR 1.33 lakh in drug money.
The state-wide operation was conducted on the directions of Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has directed Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, and Senior Superintendents of Police to make Punjab a drug-free state within three months. Additionally, the Punjab government has formed a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, to oversee the anti-drug campaign.
Providing further details, Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla stated that over 250 police teams, comprising 1,900 personnel and supervised by 101 gazetted officers, conducted raids and interrogated 627 suspicious individuals during the day-long operation.
He emphasized that Punjab Police has devised a comprehensive strategy and will continue similar operations until the drug scourge is eradicated.
The state government is implementing a three-pronged strategy—Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP)—to combat the drug crisis. As part of the de-addiction efforts, Punjab Police has convinced three individuals to undergo rehabilitation treatment and organized 161 awareness events across the state on Tuesday.
(ANI)