Punjab Govt Crackdowns On Drug Menace In State, Registers 875 FIRs, Over 1,000 Traffickers Arrested

Under a special campaign against drugs, Punjab government has registered 875 FIRs, arrested 1,188 drug traffickers, and seized narcotics worth over Rs 35 lakh since February 25.

Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said 875 FIRs have been arrested in as part of campaign against drugs in the state.

Source : PTI

The Punjab government has registered 875 FIRs and arrested 1,188 drug traffickers in the last 12 under a special campaign, Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Sunday. 

The government launched the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' (war against drugs) campaign on February 25 and has yielded "extraordinary results", the minister asserted, reported PTI.

Punjab finance minister and chairman of the anti-drug campaign cabinet sub-committee, Cheema highlighted the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's commitment to eradicating drugs from Punjab.

As per the minister, 875 FIRs have been registered, 1,188 drug traffickers arrested, Rs 35 lakh in drug money seized and narcotics, including 68 kg of heroin, 873 kg of poppy husk, 42 kg of opium and over 6.74 lakh intoxicating tablets confiscated, till March 8.

"Additionally, a widespread awareness campaign is actively mobilising citizens to contribute towards building a drug-free and prosperous Punjab," he was quoted as saying in a statement.

Cheema Attacks Previous Governments

The minister criticised the previous government of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP alliance and the Congress for "creating and fostering the drug epidemic in Punjab". 

He accused these parties of pushing youths in the state into drugs "as part of a deliberate strategy".

"Before 2007, Punjab had never heard of synthetic drugs like heroin or 'chitta.' It was during the SAD-BJP regime that these drugs entered Punjab and destroyed our youth.

"Instead of providing jobs and opportunities, they designed a system to trap Punjab's young generation into addiction," Cheema alleged.

Targeting the previous government, the minister said, "Captain Amarinder Singh (former Congress leader who is now with the BJP) took a false oath in 2017, promising to eradicate drugs within four weeks." 

He alleged that the Congress government "deepened ties" with drug peddlers. Even during the COVID-19 lockdown, while basic necessities were inaccessible, drug trafficking flourished under the Congress rule. This is why the people of Punjab rejected them in 2022 (assembly polls)," he said.