Punjab: Police wage war on drugs; 45 arrested

Following a state-level meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, the police of Jalandhar city, Jalandhar Rural, Nawanshahr and Kapurthala launched a new flagship campaign ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ for combatting drug menace in a big way on Saturday. Search operations were held at 11 hotspots of all the districts with some arrests and seizures made.

In Jalandhar city, a large-scale search operation was held at 11 different locations in the city on Saturday. The operation was led by Police Commissioner Dhanpreet Kaur and aimed to dismantle the supply chain of narcotics and curb street-level drug peddling.

Kaur took out the search operation in the Bhargo Camp area, an identified drug hotspot. The operation was executed simultaneously across other sensitive locations in the city area, including Division Number 5, Basti Bawa Khel, Bhargo Camp, Cantt, Sadar, Division Number 6 and Rama Mandi. ACP-rank officers, along with a sufficient police force, were deployed to ensure thorough searches in areas where complaints of drug trafficking had been received.

During the search operation, the police registered 11 FIRs and arrested 11 persons allegedly involved in drug-related activities. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of 98.81 g heroin, 300 intoxicant tablets, 1 kg poppy husk and Rs 3,900 in drug money. The operation marks one of the largest coordinated efforts by the Commissionerate Police in recent months.

2 POs nabbed in Jalandhar

JALANDHAR: Nineteen FIRs were lodged and 29 arrests were made during a search operation against drugs by the Jalandhar Rural police. The crackdown began early morning in 11 identified drug hotspots across the district.

SSP (Jalandhar Rural) Harkamal Preet Singh Khakh said the operation was executed with the deployment of four SP-rank officers, 12 DSPs and 525 police personnel. A total of 28 raids were conducted, during which 110 suspected smugglers were checked.

Two proclaimed offenders were also arrested on Saturday. One of them was a 17-year-old PO wanted by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), against whom a reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced.

The police seized 2,907 intoxicating tablets, 200 loose capsules and 100 g heroin during the operation. Additionally, Rs 5 lakh in drug money was recovered. Law enforcement agencies also seized a car and three motorcycles used in illicit activities. As part of the enforcement drive, 35 traffic challans were issued, and nine motorcycles were also impounded.

DSP officials also visited OAAT centres throughout the district, interacting with drug addicts to motivate them to abandon substance abuse and reintegrate into mainstream society.

1 arrested in Kapurthala

KAPURTHALA: Under the campaign, , the Kapurthala Police on Saturday conducted a large-scale search operation in 11 hot spot areas across the district.

During the operation, houses of 38 suspects and 60 suspicious vehicles were checked. A total of 13 vehicles were impounded.

A case related to drugs was also registered at the City police station in Kapurthala. In the operation at Kapurthala, one man was apprehended with over 100 intoxicant tablets. Police officials said no seizures of heroin were made during the operation.

Kapurthala Gaurav SSP Toora said under the policy of enforcement, prevention and rehabilitation, efforts were being made rehabilitate the youth suffering from the effects of drugs.

12 NDPS cases registered in Hoshiarpur

HOSHIARPUR: The police under Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) carried out searches in drug hotspots following which 12 FIRs under NDPS Act were registered with the arrest of 12 accused and one proclaimed offender.

SSP Sandeep Kumar Malik said the search operation was being carried by multiple teams of several police station under the supervision of ADGP Naresh Arora (Human Rights).

The SSP said as many as 12 FIRs were registered under NDPS Act, while 12 accused involved in drug smuggling and a proclaimed offender were arrested. “The police have seized 20 g heroin, 255 g drug powder, 1,417 habit forming drug tablets and recovered Rs 5,500 of drug money,” he added.

7 drug smugglers arrested

NAWANSHAHR: Seven drug smugglers were arrested and narcotics seized during a special operation conducted by the Nawanshahr Police under the campaign. The operation was carried out under the supervision of ADGP (Traffic Punjab) AS Rai.

Senior Superintendent of Police Mehtab Singh said multiple teams comprising 169 police personnel, including two SPs and five DSPs, were deployed across drug hotspot villages and towns in the district. The crackdown resulted in the registration of seven cases and the arrest of seven persons. The police also seized 46 gm heroin and 80 narcotic pills during the operation. He said the operation was to disrupt the drug supply chain, monitor the activities of drug peddlers and identify drug users for rehabilitation.