Punjab Launches Massive Anti-Drug Operation, Raids Conducted at 750 Locations

During the first cabinet meeting of the sub committee on the drug issue held on Saturday, officials stated that Punjab Police has launched a garant offense on drugs over the weekend and even made raids in 750 locations. 

The operation was part of a campaign which targeted drugs and involved 12 thousand police personnels. 

On Friday, the Punjab Chief offered a three month time frame to the police to resolve the drug issue in the state. With recent measures being taken by the state government to target the remaining issues, many drug peddlars are also being dealt with and in some areas their houses are even being set on fire. 

On Saturday cabinet minister Aman Arora said that all political parties should instead of using politics, should come forth and help the state governement campaign that targets drugs in order to protect the state of Punjab. 

KAP Sinha the chief secretary and Gaurav Yadav the director general of police also attended the meeting of the cabinet sub-committee. 

Pradeep Bhandari 

BJP criticizes AAP after the minister attempted to manage a non-existent department for 20 months in Punjab. 

Harpal Singh Cheema, the finance minister and head of the cabinet sub committee who met the press post meeting said that he called the first meeting for the “yudh nashia virdudh” initiative to apologize for making strong statements on violemt actions on drug dealers and the drug trafficking victims.

“The Aam Aadmi Party has launched a campaign against drugs. CM Bhagwant Mann has given orders that are highly punitive in nature. As per the orders of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal, severe action will be taken. Within no time, not a single drug peddler will be left in Punjab,” he said.

He said that members of the cabinet sub-committee have been allocated angled district to observe the workings of the police for their actions taken against drug enforcement policies.

Cheema said he will cover Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, and Tarn Taran districts while Arora will cover Ludhiana, Patiala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Amritsar, and Jalandhar.

Taranpreet Singh Sond, the minister, will cover Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga, Malerkotla and Laljit Singh Bhullar will cover Faridkot, Mukstar, Fazilka, Mansa and Ferozepur.

Balbir Singh, the Health minister will implement and oversee the drug de-addiction and rehabilitation program across the state and will look after its execution in the whole state.

Speaking with reporters, Arora blamed the past governments for the drug problem in the state. Talking about police actions against marijuana dealers, “A 360 degree action is observable and active at the state now,” Arora stated.

“The health department will not consider drug.addicts as criminals. Rather, they will be treated as patients and will be treated in the hospitals,” said Arora.

He stated that without the help of 3 crores of the Punjab population, it is next to impossible to stem “the rivers of drugs” started by the previous governments, 100 percent is very difficult.

Arora said it was my word to all political parties, religious and social organizations that the Punjab government Kejriwal Mann will remove the “cancer of drugs from the state”.