Dr. Baljit Kaur holds meeting with senior officers of various departments and districts to strengthen efforts for Drug-Free Punjab

Says ‘War Against Drugs’ launched by CM Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Government is the largest anti-drug campaign in the country

Big step towards Drug-Free Punjab – State Government to release Rs. 10 lakh for each district and Rs. 2.01 crore for establishing de-addiction centres in 10 jails across the state

Cabinet Minister urges all departments to work in coordination and cooperation to eradicate drugs from Punjab

Chandigarh, April 22:Under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Government has launched the country’s largest anti-drug campaign “War Against Drugs” to make the state drug-free. To make this initiative successful and to reduce the demand for narcotic substances, the state government will release approximately Rs. 10 crore.

Punjab Minister for Social Security, Women and Child Development, Dr. Baljit Kaur, held a meeting at Punjab Bhawan today with senior officers from the Departments of Sports and Youth Services, Home Affairs and Justice, Special Director General of Police, Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Health and Family Welfare, Employment Generation, Skill Development and Training, Information and Public Relations, School Education, Higher Education and Languages, as well as administrative officers from all districts. She emphasized the need for mutual coordination and cooperation among departments to achieve the goal of a drug-free Punjab.

The Cabinet Minister highlighted that awareness programs and seminars should be organized in schools, colleges, and other educational institutions to educate the youth about the harmful effects of drugs. She also urged Health Department officials to intensify efforts to bring addicted youth out of the clutches of drugs.

During the meeting, detailed discussions were held on the measures being taken at departmental and district levels to eliminate drugs. Dr. Baljit Kaur appreciated the ongoing efforts and assured that the government will ensure there is no shortage of funds in making Punjab the first drug-free state in the country.

She announced that Rs. 10 lakh will be allocated to each district for anti-drug initiatives. The amount may be increased for districts showing outstanding performance in drug eradication efforts.

Furthermore, the Minister informed that Rs. 2.01 crore will be provided for establishing de-addiction centres in ten jails located in Patiala, Ludhiana, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Bathinda, and Goindwal Sahib.

She added that the Punjab Government has also introduced technological tools in the fight against drugs, including an Anti-Drug Helpline and WhatsApp Chatbot (9779100200), through which people can report drug traffickers and seek help to overcome addiction.

Also present on the occasion were Special Chief Secretary of the Social Security, Women and Child Development Department, Rajee P. Srivastava, and Special Secretaries Keshav Hingonia and Vimmi Bhullar.

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Mundian issues strict directions to transferred Tehsildars and Naib tehsildars to join offices immediately

Harassment of people in Revenue offices will not be tolerated: Revenue Minister

Chandigarh, April 22Punjab Revenue and Rehabilitation Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian said that the AAP government, led by Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, is committed to providing better administrative services to the people. Hence, undue harassment of people in the Revenue Department offices will not be tolerated.

Mr. Mundian said that in the wake of ongoing reforms in the Revenue Department, transfers of Tehsildars and Naib Tehsildars were done yesterday. Still, it has come to his notice that many officers have not yet joined their duties. He has directed all the transferred Tehsildars/Naib Tehsildars to immediately report to their new postings.

The Minister said that there would be no compromise on the issue of administrative services to be provided to the people. He said that he can check any revenue office from tomorrow and if anyone is found absent from duty during this surprise checking, then strict action will be taken against the concerned officer/employee. He said that indiscipline will not be tolerated at any cost.

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FIRST TIME EVER IN PUNJAB AAP GOVT ANNOUNCES CHILD CARE LEAVE FOR SINGLE FATHERS AND CHILDREN WITH SEVERE DISABILITIES: HARPAL SINGH CHEEMA

BENEFIT OF CHILD CARE LEAVE NOW EXTENDED TO SINGLE MALE PARENTS

AMENDMENTS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT TO WORKING PARENTS, PROMOTING WORK-LIFE BALANCE AND EMPLOYEE WELL-BEING, SAYS CHEEMA

Chandigarh, April 22-Punjab Finance Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema on Tuesday announced significant amendments to the Government of Punjab’s Child Care Leave (CCL) provisions, providing much-needed flexibility and additional support to parents caring for children with long-term special needs, ensuring they can dedicate time to their well-being without compromising their careers.

Revealing this in a press communiqué issued here, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that these changes have been designed to address the evolving needs of working parents, particularly those facing unique childcare challenges. He said previously, the Child Care Leave policy extended only to female government employees with minor children below the age of 18 years. “While this initiative provided essential support to working mothers, it did not account for the diverse familial structures and specific challenges faced by single fathers and parents of children with severe disabilities”, he added.

The Finance Minister said that recognising these gaps, the Punjab government has introduced two pivotal amendments to the existing CCL provisions. “First, the benefit of Child Care Leave has now been extended to single male parents, including widowers, divorced fathers, and unmarried fathers. Second, the government has relaxed the upper age limit of 18 years for 40 percent disabled children with severe disabilities”, he added.

Divulging further, Finance Minister said that this amendment addresses the challenges faced by parents of children diagnosed with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Chronic Neurological Disorders, Severe and Profound Degrees of Intellectual Disability, Multiple Sclerosis, and Multiple Disabilities, including Deaf-Blindness. He said that this progressive move also acknowledged the vital role fathers play in childcare and ensures they receive equitable support to balance their professional responsibilities with parental duties. By offering this leave to single fathers, the government reinforced its stance on gender-inclusive policies that cater to the realities of modern families, said Cheema

Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema emphasised that these amendments reflect the Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann led Punjab Government’s unwavering commitment to fostering a work culture that prioritises employee well-being and inclusivity. He said that the revised policy would significantly ease the burden on working parents, particularly those facing extraordinary caregiving responsibilities, and enable them to provide the necessary attention and care to their children without professional repercussions.

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Vigilance Bureau arrests Naib Tehsildar, Patwari taking Rs 5000 bribe as first instalment

Chandigarh April 22, 2025 -The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) during its ongoing campaign against corruption in the state has apprehended Nirmal Singh, Naib Tehsildar Sangat Mandi, in Bathinda, and Gurtej Singh, Patwari,posted at revenue halqua Kotguruke, red handed while accepting a bribe of Rs 5000.

Disclosing this here today an official spokesperson of the state VB said the aforementioned accused have been arrested based on a complaint lodged by a complainant from Sangat town in Bathinda.

He further informed that the complainant has approached the VB and alleged that the above said accused had demanded a bribe of Rs 10000 for getting Girdwari (Mutation) done of his plot but the deal has been struck at Rs 8000.

The spokesperson informed that after a preliminary verification of this complaint the VB team from Bathinda range laid a trap during which both the accused have been arrested red handed while receiving Rs 5000 as a first instalment of bribe from the complainant in the presence of two official witnesses. The VB team has recovered also Rs. 2500 each from the accused.

In this regard a case under prevention of corruption act has been registered against both the accused at VB police station Bathinda range. Both accused would be produced in the competent court tomorrow and further investigation into this case was under progress, he said.

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I AM ALIVE DUE TO THE EFFORTS OF PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA SPEAKER KULTAR SINGH SANDHWAN, SAYS KARAMJIT KAUR

· Karamjit Kaur narrates her painful story how she trapped in the clutches of thug travel agents

Chandigarh 22 April 2025:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan said our Government is taking large-scale action against unauthorized travel agents to protect the youth of Punjab who had gone illegally to different countries including America. Even though, the practice of defrauding innocent unemployed boys and girls of Punjab by promising them to give jobs abroad still continues.

A young girl Karamjit Kaur resident of village Panjgrahi Kalan, narrated her story in an emotional way that if Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan had not come as a savior (messiah) for her, I would have committed suicide. Karamjit Kaur disclosed that an agent Amarjit Kaur, a resident of Jalalabad village in Moga district, charged Rs 15,000 from her and sent her to ‘Muscat’ on a tourist visa with the condition that if she does not like the work there, she can return back. Moreover, the passport and mobile phone of Karamjit Kaur were taken into possession.

She further revealed that the curtain was raised on this fraud racket when I personally saw that 30 girls were forced to spend the night in one room, who sometimes spend the night hungry and thirsty due to helplessness. You have to say yourself a Muslim or a Christian girl to get a job there and our phone conversations were also monitored by a team when we spoke with our parents. Only we were allowed to say, 'We are well-off here and doing a job very well,' etc.

While weeping, Karamjit Kaur said that girls from different states of the country are misled by travel agents and then sold to 'Muscat' like countries. She further disclosed that then those girls become slaves in Muscat like countries. Parents could not find the whereabouts of those girls.

Karamjit Kaur said that the agent took one lakh rupees from her, and the entire amount was deposited in an account of a bank situated in Punjab. She expressed apprehension that blank cheques bearing her signatures are still with the travel agent, which could be misused by the travel agent. She secretly called Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Sandhwan for her help and then Speaker spoke to the DSP of Moga. Now Karmjit Kaur has come back to her home with the efforts made by Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan.

It is pertinent to mention here that all expenses including the ticket were borne by the Speaker for her return back. The entire family of Karamjit Kaur says that we are always indebted to the Speaker.

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Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan condoles the demise of columnist Labh Singh Sandhu

Chandigarh, 22 April 2025:Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan, expressed his deep sorrow over the passing of renowned columnist S. Labh Singh Sandhu, born in village Duareana of my constituency Kotkapura. He said that famous columnist rendered unparalleled services as a journalist and researcher.

Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker S. Kultar Singh Sandhwan said that S. Labh Singh Sandhu researched about many unknown players and wrote about them who belong to Mansa, Bathinda and Faridkot districts. He became more famous by writing the column ‘Khundh Charcha’. S. Sandhwan prayed to God to grant peace to the departed soul and strength to the family to bear this irreparable loss.

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NUTRITIONAL SECURITY SUMMIT: MULTI-DEPARTMENT COLLABORATION CHARTS PATH FORWARD FOR SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH PROGRAMS

Chandigarh, April 22:The Punjab State Food Commission has successfully hosted a high-level multi-departmental meeting focused on advancing nutritional security, medicinal gardening and health education initiatives across schools and Anganwadi centers throughout the state.

Chaired by Sh. Bal Mukund Sharma, the session brought together key government officials and subject matter experts at MGSIPA, Chandigarh to develop cohesive strategies for implementing and scaling nutrition programs that combine educational components with practical gardening initiatives.

"Our aim is to create sustainable models that not only address immediate nutritional needs but also build lasting awareness about healthy food choices among our youngest citizens," said Chairman Mr. Sharma, while highlighting the Commission's ongoing commitment to food security.

Dr. B.C. Gupta, IAS (Retd.), former Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution delivered keynote remarks on the transformative potential of the National Food Security Act, while technical presentations covered available resources in schools, the current status of Poshan Vatika initiatives and agricultural models tailored to Punjab's climate conditions.

The meeting stressed practical implementation paths, with Member Secretary Sh. Kamal Kumar Garg, IAS outlining plans to establish pilot programs in selected schools that could serve as models for wider adoption.

Participants also explored potential partnerships between government departments, academic institutions and private sector entities to maximize program effectiveness.

The meeting featured distinguished participation from key stakeholders across multiple disciplines. Sh. Kamaldeep Singh Sangha, IAS (Retd.), underlined the critical intersection of nutrition, hygiene and health education, while Dr. Satwinder Singh Marwaha, Former Chairman of Punjab Pollution Control Board addressed essential aspects of food quality and safety protocols. Contributions continued with practical insights from Sh. Varinder Brar on resource availability in schools and Sh. Sukhdeep Singh Jhaz's comprehensive presentation on Poshan Vatika initiatives. Complementing these perspectives, Sh. Sukhdeep Singh Hundal shared expert guidance on climate-appropriate gardening models, while Dr. Ajit Dua elaborated on food testing standards and implementation frameworks.

Further enriching the discussion were specialized interventions from diverse experts addressing complementary dimensions of nutritional security. Dr. Jaswinder Brar from PAU Ludhiana outlined strategies for enhancing dietary diversity through strategic fruit cultivation, while Dr. Amrit Singh Sekhon presented opportunities for NRI involvement in grassroots health projects. The dialogue was further strengthened by Dr. S.K. Batish's advocacy for Ayurvedic integration in nutrition programs and Mr. Taranjeet Singh Bhamra's insights on leveraging agri-tech solutions for program monitoring and evaluation. Commission Members Mr. Chetan Parkash Dhaliwal and Mr. Vijay Dutt rounded out the proceedings with firsthand field observations and closing acknowledgments, respectively.

The summit concluded with a commitment to develop concrete action plans within 30 days, focusing on leveraging existing infrastructure while introducing innovative approaches to food quality testing, program monitoring and community engagement.

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PUNJAB POLICE BUSTS ILLEGAL WEAPON SMUGGLING NETWORK BEING OPERATED FROM USA; ONE HELD WITH FIVE PISTOLS

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A SAFE AND SECURE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— ARRESTED ACCUSED WAS WORKING UNDER DIRECTIONS OF USA-BASED HANDLERS GURLAL SINGH AND HARDEEP SINGH: DGP GAURAV YADAV

— RECOVERED WEAPONS WERE TO BE USED FOR CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES IN PUNJAB, SAYS DGP PUNJAB

CHANDIGARH/AMRITSAR, April 22:Amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Counter Intelligence (CI) Amritsar has busted an illegal weapon smuggling module having links extending to the United States with the arrest of its one operative from Ludhiana, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday.

The arrested accused has been identified as Gurwinder Singh alias Guri, a native of Pakhowal, Ludhiana and presently residing at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar, Ludhiana. Police teams have also recovered five pistols— including two .45 bore, two .30 bore, and one .32 bore from his possession, besides, impounding a white coloured Hyundai Verna car (PB91N0209), in which the accused was travelling.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that preliminary investigation has revealed that the arrested accused Gurwinder Guri was acting under the directions of his USA-based handlers identified as Gurlal Singh and Hardeep Singh, who have formed an alliance abroad and are operating transnational weapon smuggling ring using local associates in Punjab, he said.

As per the information, arrested accused Gurwinder Singh is brother-in-law of USA-based Hardeep Singh, who was earlier arrested by STF Ludhiana in drug smuggling case of Sarpanch Gurdeep Singh Rano in 2020. Thereafter, Hardeep Singh fled away from India to USA in year 2022.

Sharing operation details, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that CI Amritsar received a tip-off indicating that accused Gurwinder Singh was tasked by his handlers to deliver a consignment in Ludhiana. Acting swiftly, the police team from CI Amritsar intercepted and arrested accused Gurwinder Singh near Sham Nagar Phatak Ludhiana, when he was going to deliver the consignment in his Verna car.

The DGP said that the recovered firearms were intended for use in criminal activities across Punjab. Further investigations are on to establish backward and forward linkages in this case to dismantle the entire network, he said, while adding that more arrests are recoveries are likely in this case.

A case FIR No. 21 dated 21.04.2025 has been registered under section 25 of the Arms Act and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at Police Station SSOC, Amritsar.

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Will Take Necessary Steps to Promote Export of Fruits and Vegetables from Punjab: Mohinder Bhagat

Fruit Plants to Be Grown on 5 Acres Each of Panchayat Land in 10 Villages Under Pilot Project

Says, Main Objective is to Increase Area Under Horticulture and Enhance Farmers’ Income in State

Chandigarh, April 22:Punjab Horticulture Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat chaired a high-level meeting with officials to discuss strategies aimed at boosting the export of fruits and vegetables from the state, expanding the area under horticulture, and increasing farmers’ income. The meeting was held at Punjab Kheti Bhawan, Mohali on Tuesday.

Present in the meeting were Secretary Horticulture Mr. Muhammad Tayyab, Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur, along with officials from the Airport Authority of India, Punjab Markfed, and Punjab Agri Export Corporation.

Mr. Bhagat stated that the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is working vigorously to promote horticulture and uplift the economic condition of farmers. As part of this mission, a pilot project will be launched under which fruit plants will be planted

on 5 acres of each panchayat land in 10 selected villages across the state. He added that the income generated from these panchayat lands will be utilized by the respective village panchayats for local development purposes. The Minister directed the concerned officials to initiate the implementation process at the earliest.

Highlighting the export potential, Mr. Bhagat emphasized that fruits like kinnow, mango, and litchi, as well as vegetables like brinjal and okra from Punjab, are in high demand overseas. During the meeting, discussions were held to explore the necessary steps for facilitating the export of horticultural crops through Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, Amritsar. On this occasion, Station Head of the Airport Authority, Mr. Azad Singh, assured full support for the initiative.

Mr. Bhagat further mentioned that Punjab holds vast potential in the processed horticulture sector as well. By tapping into international markets, not only can farmers' income be increased, but new employment opportunities can also be created. He stated that Punjab’s geographical conditions and climate are highly suitable for horticulture, especially for crops that are in high demand in Europe and other international markets.

Others present in the meeting included Chief Manager, Punjab Markfed, Jaswinder Singh; CEO, Punjab Agri Export Corporation Ltd., Ranbir Singh, Superintending Engineer, Panchayati Raj Sandeep Sidhar, Deputy Director Horticulture Gurmail Singh and Dalveer Singh.

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DGP GAURAV YADAV INAUGURATES CYBER CRIME POLICE STATION IN FARIDKOT, SMART POLICE CONTROL ROOM IN MOGA

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO DEVELOP ROBUST POLICE INFRASTRUCTURE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— DGP PUNJAB ALSO TAKES STOCK OF ONGOING ANTI-DRUG CAMPAIGN ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ FROM POLICE OFFICERS AND PUBLIC

— FARIDKOT DISTRICT TOPS IN REGISTERING FIRs FOLLOWING TIPS ON SAFE-PUNJAB ANTI-DRUG HELPLINE ‘9779100200’: DGP GAURAV YADAV

— DGP PUNJAB ANNOUNCES INSTALLATION OF 100 MORE CCTV CAMERAS IN MOGA DISTRICT TO KEEP VIGIL AROUND DRUG PEDDLERS AND PREVENT STREET CRIME

CHANDIGARH/FARIDKOT/MOGA, April 22:In order to develop robust police infrastructure as per the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Tuesday inaugurated slew of developments projects in Faridkot and Moga during his visit to both the districts to review the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ anti-drugs campaign.

The DGP has inaugurated three projects in Faridkot including state-of-the-art Cyber Crime Police Station, a Conference Hall equipped with hi-tech gadgets and a Briefing hall with seating capacity of 250 persons, while, a futuristic Smart Police Control Room has been inaugurated in Moga district. The DGP was accompanied by Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Faridkot Range Ashwani Kapur.

DGP Gaurav Yadav, while interacting with the media in Faridkot, said that the Cyber Crime Police Station— equipped with advanced digital forensic tools, has been established to address online financial fraud, identity theft, and cyberbullying. The Faridkot Police has already returned 260 lost mobile phones to owners and reimbursed Rs 90 lakhs to cyber fraud victims, he added.

Appreciating the extra ordinary efforts of the Faridkot Police in making Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign a huge success, the DGP said that Faridkot Police with the support and cooperation of the public has developed a meticulous follow-up system and have arrested over 300 drug peddlers since the launch of the special drive on March 1, 2025. Faridkot is the top district which has registered maximum first information reports (FIRs) following the tips on the Punjab Government’s Safe Punjab Anti-Drug Helpline ‘9779100200’.

He also joined the ‘Bada Khana’ lunch organised by the Faridkot Police, which provided an opportunity to officers of all ranks to interact with the Head of the Police Force and exchange ideas, thereby strengthening the bond that is essential for effective teamwork in the field.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Farikot Dr Pragya Jain apprised the DGP that under the 'Yudh Nashian Virudh' campaign, Faridkot Police has arrested over 300 drug peddlers after registration of 150 FIRs and recovered 4.7 kg heroin, 3Kg opium, 130 kg poppy husk, Rs 3.83 lakh drug money. Property worth more than Rs 5 crores have been freezed under 68F NDPS giving a considerable blow to drug network in District Faridkot, she added.

The DGP has also engaged with citizens of Faridkot during a public outreach under “Yudh Nashian Virudh” and solicited their support in fight against drugs.

In Moga, DGP Gaurav Yadav, while inaugurating the Smart Police Control Room, said that this facility is equipped with cutting edge surveillance systems and advanced monitoring technologies which will enhance crime prevention, monitor suspicious activities, and aid in tracing criminal elements effectively.

He said that Moga Police has installed 140 surveillance cameras— including 107 Bullet cameras and 33 Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras—in Moga City, Baghapurana, and Dharamkot. These are AI-enabled cameras, which will also monitor inter-district checkpoints, he said.

He also announced to install additional 100 CCTV cameras across Nihal Singh Wala, Baghapurana, and Dharamkot sub-divisions.

The DGP has also interacted with the police officers posted as SHOs and DSPs/SPs in district Moga and reviewed the progress on the Punjab Government’s ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ by taking their suggestions for improvements in enforcement and prevention strategies.

SSP Moga Ajay Gandhi, while thanking the DGP for announcing the installation of 100 more CCTV cameras in the district, said that these cameras will be installed with focus on drug hotspots and inter-district roads to prevent the street crime and keep vigil around drug smugglers.

Sharing outcomes of Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, the SSP said that Moga police has arrested 282 drug peddlers after registering 171 FIRs and recovered 6.2 kg heroin, 148 kg poppy husk, 12 lakh intoxicant pills and Rs 3.11 lakh drug money from their possession.

Meanwhile, the DGP also honoured high-performing officials and personnel of Faridkot and Moga Police with DGP Commendation Discs and appreciation letters to encourage and motivate them to perform their duties more effectively.

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‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’: ON DAY 53, PUNJAB POLICE ARRESTS 76 DRUG SMUGGLERS; 3.5KG HEROIN, ₹1L DRUG MONEY RECOVERED

— PUNJAB POLICE COMMITTED TO MAKING PUNJAB A DRUG-FREE STATE AS PER DIRECTIONS OF CM BHAGWANT SINGH MANN

— POLICE TEAMS ALSO CONDUCT SEARCHES AT JAILS IN SIX DISTRICTS

— OVER 150 POLICE TEAMS LED BY 75 SP/DSP RANK OFFICERS CHECKED 374 SUSPICIOUS PERSONS: SPL DGP ARPIT SHUKLA

CHANDIGARH, April 22: With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered 53rd day, Punjab Police on Tuesday arrested 76 drug smugglers and recovered 3.5 kg heroin, 1 kg opium and Rs 1.09 lakh drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 7036 in just 53 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.

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla informed that over 150 Police teams, comprising over 1000 police personnel, under the supervision of 75 gazetted officers have conducted raids at as many as 345 locations across the state leading to the registration of 49 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Police teams have also checked as many as 374 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 two persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at different jails in six districts— Commissionerate Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, SBS Nagar, Jalandhar Rural, Kapurthala and Rupanagar— to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.