CHANDIGARH, March 11:
With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 11th day, Punjab Police conducted raids at 580 locations on Tuesday leading to the arrest of 110 drug smugglers after registration of 68 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 1540 in just 11 days.
Police teams have also recovered 2.8 kg heroin, 500 grams opium, 10904 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections and Rs 2.88 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.
Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state in coming three months. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.
Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 220 Police teams, comprising over 1600 police personnel, under the supervision of 107 gazetted officers have conducted raids across the state and checked as many as 631 suspicious persons during the day long operation.
The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘De-addiction’ has convinced one person to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment, while, organised 146 awareness events across the state as part of Prevention.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in five districts— Fazilka, Ferozepur, Sri Muktsar Sahib, Faridkot and Moga— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.
