Chandigarh, March 22
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar highlighted the success of the Punjab Government's anti-drug campaign, 'Yudh Nashian Virudh', and shared details of police action up to March 21 with the media.
On Saturday, Laljit Bhullar addressed a press conference at the party office in Chandigarh regarding this campaign. The minister stated that the results of the 'War Against Drugs' campaign have been very encouraging and that its positive impact is visible across Punjab. He added that the people of Punjab are praising the government for this initiative.
He mentioned that the Punjab Police is conducting this campaign very effectively. So far, 121 kg of heroin, 78 kg of opium, and approximately ₹5.25 crore in cash have been seized. Additionally, 2015 FIRs have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), and 3,376 drug traffickers have been arrested.
Furthermore, approximately 7.5 lakh intoxicating pills, 1,277 kg of poppy husk, 33 kg of cannabis, 4.5 kg of charas, 1.25 kg of ice, around 500 bottles of illicit liquor, 7.5 kg of intoxicating powder, and 330 injections have also been seized by the police. Additionally, properties of 43 individuals involved in drug trafficking have been demolished.
The police have also confiscated 22 motorcycles, 8 mobile phones, 4 cars, and 12 pistols connected to drug trafficking. During these operations, over 4 kg of gold, including one necklace and two chains, as well as 1.25 kg of silver, were also recovered.
Bhullar appealed to all village panchayat members and sarpanches in Punjab to step forward and contribute to this campaign. He cited his own constituency, Patti, as an example and mentioned that there are 113 panchayats in his constituency, all of which held meetings and passed resolutions deciding that if an FIR is filed against a drug peddler, no one in the village would post bail for them. He added that if anyone tries to post bail for such individuals, the entire village should boycott them.
He stressed that collective effort is needed to win this war. For this, all panchayat members and the general public need to stand united against drugs. He appealed to all sarpanches in Punjab to pass similar resolutions in their respective panchayats to create an anti-drug environment in villages and raise awareness among people.
He further stated that just as Punjabis collectively overcame the dark era that began in 1984, it is now time to eradicate drugs from Punjab.
Bhullar also issued a stern warning to drug traffickers, stating, "Either stop this work or leave Punjab. If anyone continues selling drugs in Punjab, their houses will be demolished, and they will be sent to jail." Bhullar said that such people are the enemies of society and have no right to live within it.