Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Mar 9: The Punjab government’s aggressive anti-drug initiative, Yudh Nashian Virudh, launched on February 25, has delivered significant results within just 12 days, according to state Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, who chairs the Anti-Drug Campaign Sub-Committee.
Cheema revealed that law enforcement agencies have registered 875 FIRs and arrested 1,188 drug traffickers. Authorities have also seized Rs 35 lakh in drug money and confiscated large quantities of narcotics, including 68 kg heroin, 873 kg poppy husk, 42 kg opium, 3.5 kg charas, and over 6.74 lakh intoxicating tablets.
Beyond enforcement, a mass awareness drive is underway, encouraging public participation in creating a drug-free Punjab.
Cheema blamed previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP and Congress governments for allowing the drug menace to flourish. He alleged that synthetic drugs like heroin and ‘chitta’ infiltrated Punjab under the SAD-BJP regime, leading to a sharp rise in addiction.
“Before 2007, Punjab had never seen these synthetic drugs. Instead of offering jobs and a future, they deliberately pushed our youth into addiction,” he stated.
Criticizing the Congress government, he accused former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh of failing to fulfill his 2017 promise to eliminate drugs within four weeks. “During the COVID-19 lockdown, basic necessities were scarce, but drug trafficking thrived under Congress rule. This is why the people rejected them in 2022,” Cheema added.
He highlighted that the AAP government, under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, has modernized the police force and strengthened law enforcement. As a result, the conviction rate under the NDPS Act has surged to 86%, compared to 58% during Congress rule and just 40% under the SAD-BJP government.
Some districts have recorded conviction rates exceeding 90%, including Sangrur (93%), Nawanshahr (99%), and Ropar (95%).
Cheema credited this success to enhanced investigations, improved prosecution, and a reinforced Punjab Police. “Under the SAD-BJP government, drug traffickers often walked free due to delayed charge sheets. Now, we have a system that delivers justice swiftly,” he asserted.