Punjab declares war on drugs: CM Mann rolls out new policy in high-level meeting

The Punjab government's immediate focus now appears to be on developing an effective policy for preventing drug abuse and rehabilitating victims.

In this regard, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann met with all Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police on Friday.

A multi-pronged strategy to combat drug addiction was decided upon during a high-level meeting.

Deputy Commissioners, the Police Commissioner, and SSPs have been instructed to collaborate. The police will identify drug hotspots, disrupt the supply chain, and take stringent action against drug traffickers.

It was also reiterated that properties belonging to drug traffickers will be confiscated and destroyed.

CM Mann urged the Deputy Commissioners to transform the fight against drug addiction into a mass movement.

The CM is expected to discuss the new drug abuse prevention and rehabilitation policy with the district officers and ask them to implement it to rid the state of this scourge. This meeting follows yesterday's announcement of a five-member Cabinet subcommittee to combat the increasing drug menace.

This Committee, headed by Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, was appointed to oversee the actions of the police and health departments in addressing the issue. The other members of the committee are Ministers Aman Arora, Dr Balbir Singh, Laljit Singh Bhullar, and Taranpreet Singh Sond.

The government's renewed focus on the issue of drug menace stems from the public backlash it received during last year's Lok Sabha elections, when women in particular were vocal about the government's failure to control the menace. Officials from the Jails, Sports, Employment & Skill Development, Health, and Home Affairs departments, along with many senior police officers led by the DGP, were also present.