CHANDIGARH, March 18:

          With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 18th day, Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 95 drug smugglers and recovered 11 kg heroin, 7.5 kg opium and ₹31000 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 2231 in just 18 days.

          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. 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.

          Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that the Punjab Police’s intensive fight against drugs is gaining momentum, with a significant show of public support. He informed that, as part of the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign, Malerkotla Police jointly with Civil Administration has organised a Sampark meeting at village Ferozpur Kothala, PS Sandaur, where 40 panchayats have passed a resolution to jointly combating the drug menace and fostering a stronger police-public partnership.

          Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 250 Police teams, comprising over 1600 police personnel, under the supervision of 97 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 539 locations across the state leading to the registration of 61 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 599 suspicious persons during the day long operation, he added.

          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 six persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment, while, organised 137 awareness events across the state as part of Prevention.

Ludhiana, March 18:

Blowing the bigul for launching a decisive war against drugs in the state, the former Delhi Chief Minister and National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday announced a mass movement against the menace from April 1.

Addressing a mammoth gathering here in Indoor Stadium, the former Delhi Chief Minister said that on April 1 more than three crore Punjabis will stand against the scourge of drugs by decimating a handful of smugglers who are ruining the generations of state for minting money. Arvind Kejriwal said that the state government will launch a mass movement against drugs on April 1 adding he urged every resident to be a soldier in this war against drugs. He said that every party worker will go to villages to eliminate drugs from the state, adding that this will be a decisive war against drugs.

National Convener of AAP also launched an anti-drug helpline number 9779100200 and exhorted the people to give any information related to selling of drugs in their area on this number. He said that the identity of the caller will not be disclosed to anyone but exemplary action against drug smugglers will be taken. Likewise, Arvind Kejriwal said that drug census will be conducted across the state to ascertain the extent of drugs prevalent in the state.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that as a part of this census teams will visit every household to check the extent of drugs present in the cities and villages. He said that the identity of drug victims will be kept secret but corrective measures will be taken subsequently.  Arvind Kejriwal further said that in order to wean away youth from the menace of drugs, playgrounds and gyms will be opened in every village of the state adding that this will help in channelizing unbounded energy of youth in a positive direction and make them an active partner in socio-economic progress of the state.    

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that 5000 new Home Guards are being recruited and they will be deployed in the border districts of the state. He said that the state government has done foolproof planning in the last three years and now implementation has been made. Arvind Kejriwal said that the Ministers of the previous regimes used to patronize drugs and ruined the generations of Punjab for their lust for power.

The National Convener of AAP said that these leaders had sheltered drugs, sand, transport, cable and other mafia just for the sake of their vested interests. He said that these leaders were routed out from power and were succeeded by the government whose leader had publically sworn that drugs will be wiped out in four months. However, Arvind Kejriwal said that nothing tangible happened as this epicurean monarch remained inaccessible to the people and just used his office for enjoying the power without bothering about masses.

The former Delhi Chief Minister said that now the crusade against drugs has been embarked with full might and this scourge will be wiped out from the state soon. He said that the drug lords are being put behind the bars, supply lines of drugs are being snapped and properties of smugglers are being destroyed/ confiscated. Arvind Kejriwal categorically said that the kingpin of drugs and once powerful ministers who were involved in this heinous crime will also not be spared and they will also be put behind the bars.

The National Convener of AAP said that anti-drone technology will be put in place by the state government to check the supply of drugs from across the border as 70% of drugs was being supplied from Pakistan. He said that baffled by strict action against drugs the anti-national forces are trying to destabilize progress and prosperity in the state adding that grenade attacks across the state are part of this conspiracy. Arvind Kejriwal said that this will not be tolerated and strict action will be taken against such forces inimical to the state.

The former Delhi Chief Minister warned these forces that this is not the government of Congress, Akali or BJP and the nefarious designs of these forces will be thwarted by the AAP government, who is serving the people of state. He said that a complete facelift of the state is taking place under the regime of the Bhagwant Singh Mann government. Arvind Kejriwal said that Congress, Akalis and BJP had left a dilapidated civil hospital for the Ludhiana residents but now it has been completely renovated.

The National Convener of AAP said that this hospital had more than 30,000 rodents but now the state government has embarked on a major revolution to uplift the healthcare sector. He said that in the coming 3-4 months land registry will be made corruption free, adding that a number of reforms are being planned in the state and all the public dealing services will be given at the doorsteps of the common man. Arvind Kejriwal said that those Punjabis who are not having Ayushman card will be issued Sehat cards for free healthcare facilities adding that this is just the beginning and works of public welfare will be accelerated in the coming days.

Ludhiana, March 18:

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday said that the state government is working tirelessly for realizing the dreams of the great freedom fighters and martyrs.

Addressing the gathering in the Indoor Stadium here today, the Chief Minister, accompanied by National Convener of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal said that every action of the state government is aimed at the well being of the common man. He said that education, health, power and other sectors had acquired a centre stage in the political agenda of the parties due to the concerted efforts of AAP and its national convener Arvind Kejriwal. He said that prior to this none of the political parties had ever bothered about these core sectors that are most important for every common man adding that due to such works even those leaders who boast of having 56 inches chest are afraid of him.

The Chief Minister said that the people of state had given a huge verdict to AAP by electing 92 MLAs in the Punjab Assembly during 2022 Vidhan Sabha polls. He said that the leaders who had defied the state and had shown grave disrespect to Sri Guru Granth Sahib are now paying for their sins. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that those who claimed that they will rule for 25 years don’t have 25 leaders with them now as people had taught them a befitting lesson for their misdeeds.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is cleaning the mess created by the previous regimes. He said that the drug mafia was patronized by the earlier governments but his government has launched a crusade against drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said meticulous planning has been done to wipe out the menace of drugs from the state and now war against drugs has begun.

The Chief Minister said that apart from snapping the supply lines of drugs the state government has put the big fishes involved in this crime behind the bars. He said that apart from this due focus is being laid on the rehabilitation of the victims of drugs. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that now the property of the drug peddlers is being seized and destroyed adding that this noble cause cannot be accomplished without active public support.

Citing the example of Narangwal village where illegal property of drug smugglers was razed last week, the Chief Minister said that the properties of the drug smugglers are being confiscated/ razed. He said that the state government has adopted a zero tolerance policy against drugs and a decisive war has been launched to wipe out this menace. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the war against drugs is being transformed into a mass movement so that Punjab can be made completely drug free.       

Similarly, the Chief Minister said that the state government has crackdown against the corrupt officers in Punjab. He said that those officers who were seeking license for corruption by going on mass leave in support of their dishonest officers have been shifted. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the pressure tactics by harassing the common man is unwarranted and undesirable adding that this will not be tolerated at any cost.

The Chief Minister reiterated that the traditional parties are envious of him because he hails from a common family and is working tirelessly to ensure welfare of people. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these leaders had always believed that they have divine right to rule the state due to which they are not able to digest that a common man is running the state efficiently. He said that these leaders have befooled the people for a long time but now people are not getting swayed by their misleading propaganda.

The Chief Minister said that Punjabis are excelling in every field and are proving their mettle across the globe. He said that the captain of the Indian Women Cricket team hails from Punjab adding that majority of the Hockey players in Indian team are from the state. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government is providing every necessary infrastructure to the sports for grooming them well for the national and international events.

Earlier, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Arvind Kejriwal, Cabinet Minister Dr. Balbir Singh and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora welcomed the dignitaries and felicitated the business tycoons present in the function.

Chandigarh/Moga, March 18:

As part of Punjab Government’s “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” campaign, Cabinet Minister for Rural Development and Panchayats, Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion, Labour, Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mr. Tarunpreet Singh Sond held a special meeting with the civil and police administration officials of Moga district. During the meeting, he emphasized that there is no place in Punjab for drug traffickers who are destroying the youth of the state.

Announcing the government’s firm stance, the Minister stated that the Punjab Government will not rest until the state is completely free from drugs and drug traffickers are eliminated. He directed the administration to formulate a master plan for eradicating drugs in Moga and launch a widespread awareness campaign in schools and colleges to educate youth about the harmful effects of drug abuse, ensuring that future generations do not fall into this trap.

Mr. Sond emphasized the need for collective efforts to make the anti-drug campaign successful under the leadership of Chief Minister Mr. Bhagwant Singh Mann. He urged village panchayats to conduct awareness activities at the grassroots level to uproot the menace of drugs. He also stressed the importance of street plays in towns and villages to educate people about drug abuse and directed civil and police administration to coordinate their efforts effectively.

Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Mr. Sond called upon district officials to consider drug eradication as their social responsibility and work with full commitment. He instructed that panchayats should actively participate in this mission and encourage people to report drug dealers without fear, assuring that their identities would be kept confidential.

The Minister also appealed to families to take their addicted members to government-run de-addiction centers, assuring that the government is committed to rehabilitating them and giving them a chance to lead a healthy life.

Issuing a stern warning to drug traffickers, Mr. Sond said, “Either quit the drug trade or leave Punjab.” He asserted that the state government is determined to save its youth and will not spare those leading them astray. He also mentioned that illegally acquired properties of drug traffickers are being seized and demolished to deter others from engaging in such activities.

Deputy Commissioner, Moga Mr. Sagar Setia informed the Minister that besides de-addiction efforts, large-scale preventive actions are already underway. He mentioned that rehabilitation centers are being strengthened to ensure proper treatment and counseling for drug victims. Additionally, skill development programs and employment opportunities are being provided to help rehabilitated individuals reintegrate into society.

The Deputy Commissioner also highlighted the state government’s helpline number 9779100200, urging people to share any drug-related information, assuring them that their identities will remain confidential.

SSP Moga, Mr. Ajay Gandhi briefed the Minister on the ongoing crackdown on major drug traffickers and assured that their entire networks will soon be dismantled. He reaffirmed that the police, with public support, will leave no stone unturned in making this campaign successful.

Prior to the meeting, Mr. Tarunpreet Singh Sond addressed the media, reiterating that eradicating drugs from Punjab was a key promise of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann before coming to power. He stated that from day one, the government has been working tirelessly to make Punjab drug-free and restore its glory.

He shared recent achievements under the “Yudh Nashiyan Virudh” campaign, which commenced on March 1, 2025. Between March 1 and March 16, 2025, the following seizures and arrests were made:

1,651 FIRs registered

2,575 arrests made

95.264 kg of heroin seized

1,128 kg of poppy husk confiscated

52.316 kg of opium recovered

16 kg of marijuana seized

4.632 kg of hashish recovered

7,25,666 intoxicating pills confiscated

1,733 liters of illicit liquor (Lahan) seized

Drug money amounting to over ₹64.26 lakh recovered

279 intoxicating injections confiscated

Mr. Sond assured that the Punjab Government has given the police and administration full freedom to act against drug traffickers, ensuring that no trafficker will escape legal action. He emphasized that strict action is being taken without any political interference.

During his visit, the Cabinet Minister was accorded a Guard of Honor at the District Administrative Complex by the Punjab Police.

Prominent attendees included MLA Moga Dr. Amandeep Kaur Arora, MLA Baghapurana Mr. Amritpal Singh Sukhanand, MLA Dharamkot Mr. Davinderjit Singh Ladhi Dhons, MLA Nihal Singh Wala Mr. Manjit Singh Bilaspur, Mayor of Municipal Corporation Mr. Baljit Singh Chaani, Chairman of improvement Trust Mr. Raman Mittal, Chairman of the District Planning Board Mr. Harmandeep Singh Brar, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mr. Jagvinderjit Singh Grewal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Ms. Charumita, along with other senior officials from civil and police administration.

Chandigarh, March 18, 2025

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its continued efforts to combat corruption, on Wednesday arrested Parmjit Singh, a Panchayat Secretary from village Jhall Bimbri in Kapurthala district for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 15,000. However, the co-accused in the case, Hardyal Singh, Block Development and Panchayats Officer (BDPO) of Kapurthala, managed to evade arrest by fleeing the scene.

An official spokesperson for the Punjab VB informed that the arrest was made following a complaint filed by a resident of village Jhall Bimbri. The complainant alleged that both the BDPO and the Panchayat secretary had demanded a bribe of Rs 20,000 in exchange for issuing a bank check to pay the construction costs of a street.

He further added that after conducting a preliminary inquiry, a VB team laid a trap, leading to the arrest of the Panchayat secretary while he was accepting Rs 15,000 from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The BDPO, however, escaped before he could be apprehended.

The spokesperson added that a case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered against both accused at VB police station Jalandhar. The arrested Panchayat Secretary would be presented before a competent court tomorrow. Further investigation into the case was under progress, he said.

Chandigarh, March 17:

The Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is continuously working to enhance the early education and overall development of children in the state. Providing this information, Social Security, Women, and Child Development Minister Dr. Baljit Kaur stated that to ensure the transparent registration of private play-way schools and its effective implementation at the ground level, an online registration portal will soon be launched.

Further elaborating, Dr. Baljit Kaur mentioned that all private play-way schools and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) institutions in the state must mandatorily register with the Department of Social Security, Women, and Child Development within six months. She added that district program officers have been directed to ensure the registration process of private play-way schools on the online portal.

The Cabinet Minister also highlighted that to improve the quality of early childhood education, the Punjab Government has approved new guidelines for regulating private play-way schools. She stated that under this initiative, a standardized, play-based curriculum will be implemented to ensure the holistic development of children aged 3 to 6 years.

Dr. Baljit Kaur further emphasized that to provide quality educational services to children in Anganwadi centers and expand access to Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), the Department of Social Security has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with two leading institutions, Pratham and Rocket Learning, to introduce a unified curriculum in the state.

The Cabinet Minister added that this initiative aims to ensure quality education and better learning outcomes for children across Punjab while integrating private and public early education institutions under a unified framework.

Chandigarh, March 17:

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan has written a demi-official letter to Dharmendra Pradhan, Education Minister Government of India and brought his attention about the the numerous errors in the Punjabi text book “Punjabi Primer” (ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਕਾਇਦਾ) published under the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), New Delhi. This book is designed for Balvatika/Anganwadi-level children and adult literacy programs, contains significant spelling mistakes and factual inaccuracies, particularly in the representation of the Punjabi alphabet.

He pointed  out that one of the most glaring errors in that book which incorrectly starts the Punjabi alphabet with “ਅ” instead of the correct ” ਓ “. Such fundamental mistakes not only misguide young learners but also undermine the effectiveness of literacy initiatives for adults. It is imperative that educational materials, especially those meant for foundational learning,  maintain the highest standards of accuracy and authenticity, Sandhwan said.

He also urged the Education Minister, Government of India to initiate an immediate review and revision of this textbook by qualified Punjabi linguistic experts and scholars to ensure that learners receive correct and reliable content. Furthermore, he said that it is crucial to establish a strict editorial and quality-checking process for all future publications to prevent such errors.

Speaker Sandhwan highlighted that ensuring error-free learning materials is essential for the success of foundational education and literacy programs in our country. He also requested him to urgently intervene in addressing this matter at the earliest.

CHANDIGARH, March 17:

          With the ongoing anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has rattled Pakistan’s-ISI, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Monday categorically said that Punjab Police will not allow anyone to disturb the hard-earned peace and harmony of the state. Intelligence inputs have also indicated that the campaign’s success has rattled Pakistan’s-ISI, which is now devising strategies to destabilise the border state Punjab to disrupt this ongoing drive against drugs.

          “Punjab Police will not allow Pak-ISI to destabilise the border state and will ensure exemplary punishment to anyone try to disturb the peace and harmony of the state,” said the DGP, citing that the key accused involved in the attack at Thakur Dwara Mandir in Amritsar was neutralised in a retaliatory fire by police teams in Amritsar.

          While addressing the media after chairing a high-level meeting with top officials, including Special DGPs, Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs) and Inspector Generals of Police (IGPs), the DGP revealed that the decisive campaign against drugs has forced drug couriers and smugglers to retreat, with many refusing to pick up consignments dropped by Pakistan-based operatives, which led to sharp decline in supply of heroin from across the border.

          “The impact of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ is undeniable. Our intelligence confirms that drug couriers are now hesitant to collect heroin packets dropped by Pakistani smugglers, signalling a major disruption in the supply chain,” he said.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav informed that under this campaign, Punjab Police has been targetting actual street drug peddler and smugglers, while drug victims are not being harassed unnecessarily and are being admitted to de-addiction centres for treatment. These special operations against drugs are being conducted under the supervision of Senior Police Officers of the rank of Special DGPs, ADGPs, IGPs and DIGs, who have been allotted different districts, he added.

          He also lauded the efforts of cabinet sub-committee for bringing together all the departments to eradicate this drug menace from the state. Notably, the Punjab government has constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav said that to make this drive more effective, Punjab Police is launching a comprehensive district-level mapping initiative to ascertain the prevalence of specific drugs in each district, to accordingly implement targetted action plans to root out this menace from the state.

          He said that all the officers in the field— from Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police (CPs/SSPs) to Station House Officers (SHOs)— are being given quantifiable targets. Their effectiveness will be assessed based on the targets and parameters they were given to ensure results-driven approach to the anti-drug campaign, he added.

          Sharing outcomes of the 17 days of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, the DGP said that Punjab Police arrested of 2575 drug smugglers after registering of 1651 first information reports (FIRs) across the state since March 1, 2025. During this drive, Police teams have recovered 95 kg heroin, 52 kg opium, 1129 kg poppy husk, 13.79 kg Ganja, 7.25 lakh intoxicant tablets/pills/injections, 1 kg ICE, 1.37 kg cocaine and Rs 64 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers, he said.

          He said that the newly launched Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline ‘9779100200’, which allows citizens to report drug traffickers anonymously, has gained popularity among the general public, with tips on the helpline has witnessed increase in recent days.

          While expressing gratitude to the people of the state for supporting Punjab Police to making this drive successful, the DGP said that without the support of public this drive cannot be successful. He said that Punjab Police has been reaching out to the public by holding meetings with people and village defence committees.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav informed that certain public programmes including YUVA Saanjh and Sports initiatives are being more strengthened to channelise the energy of the youth in right way.

Chandigarh/ Patiala, March 17:

In a resolute bid to combat the scourge of drug abuse, Punjab Cabinet Minister and the State President of Aam Aadmi Party Mr. Aman Arora, on Monday, appealed to the grassroots pillars of governance – Councillors, Sarpanchs, and Nambardars – to adopt a zero-tolerance stance against drug peddlers, regardless of their social connections or affiliations. Emphasising the critical role these local leaders play in shaping their communities, he asked the Sarpanchs, Councillors and Nambardars to refrain from extending any help to drug peddlers pushing our youth to drug swamp.  

He was addressing the media after chairing a meeting with Patiala district’s civil and police administration in the presence of local leadership to review the current status of “Yudh Nashian Virudh” drive. He was on the whirlwind tour of three districts today including Patiala, Kapurthala and Amritsar.

Declaring that “Yudh Nashian Virudh” has become a people’s drive, Mr. Aman Arora said that a number of drug peddlers have been put behind the bars and huge quantities of narcotics have been recovered in the past 16 days with the active participation of people of the state.

The Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government has adopted two-pronged strategy to give final blow to this menace, Mr. Aman Arora said, while stating that strict action has been taken not only to cut the supply line but a special focus has been laid on rehabilitating the drug victims. He said that special skill development training is being imparted to bring them back into the mainstream of society, besides, becoming an earning hand for their families.

Reaffirming the commitment of the Punjab government to completely eradicating drugs from the state, Mr. Aman Arora said that no one is being spared irrespective of his rank or political affiliation.

Taking SAD-BJP and Congress to task, the AAP’s state president said that the polito-narcos nexus that came to fore during past regimes in the state has caused an unforgettable loss to Punjab especially its youth. “The relentless efforts are being made by the Aam Aadmi Party led state government during the last three years to root-up this nexus, and this last stroke will ensure that the dark era will come to an end,” he emphasized. 

Deputy Commissioner Patiala Dr. Preeti Yadav apprised the cabinet minister that OOAT clinics saw a 25 percent increase in foot-fall after the launch of “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign. She informed that the district authorities have been regularly conducting inspections at Drug De-addiction Centres and OOAT Clinics.     

SSP Dr. Nanak Singh apprised that police have registered 60 FIRs, arrested 85 individuals, recovered drugs in huge quantities and carried out 28 CASO operations in the district under “Yudh Nashian Virudh” drive.

MLAs Ajitpal Singh Kohli (Patiala), Chetan Singh Jauramajra (Samana), Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra (Sanaur), Gurlal Ghanaur (Ghanaur), Nina Mittal (Rajpura), Gurdev Singh Dev Mann (Nabha) and Kulwant Singh (Shutrana), Chairman of PRTC Ranjodh Singh Hadana, Mayor Kundan Gogia, Chairman Improvement Trust Megh Chand Shermajra, Chairman District Planning Committee Jassi Sohia Wala and other senior officials of were also present in the meeting.

Chandigarh, March 17:

          In a significant administrative move aimed at improving policing efficiency and ensuring accountability as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Police has fixed the tenure limitation for MHCs, commonly known as Munshi, at any single police station or unit to a maximum of two years.

          The order, issued by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, on Monday, reads, “In order to ensure accountability, improve policing efficiency and enhance professional development across the force, it is hereby ordered that the tenure of MHCs assigned to a specific police station or unit shall not exceed a period of two years at one location.”

          The order also mandated that upon completion of the two-year tenure, the officer shall be transferred to a different station or unit. This order is to be implemented immediately and strictly adhered to, with any non-compliance subject to disciplinary action, the order further reads.

          DGP Gaurav Yadav emphasised that the move is purely administrative and is designed to ensure a dynamic and responsive policing system.