War on drugs: 798 raids across Punjab, 290 persons arrested

A day after Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann ordered a statewide campaign against narcotics, the Punjab Police on Saturday conducted a massive cordon and search operation (CASO) at identified drug hotspots, leading to the arrest of 290 drug smugglers and registration of 232 FIRs.

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The four-hour operation led to the seizure of 8.14 kg heroin, 1.21 kg opium, 3.5 kg ganja, 19 kg poppy husk, 700 gm charas, 16,238 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections and Rs 8.02 lakh drug money, according to an official statement.

The development came a day after Mann asked the commissioners of police, deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police to make Punjab drug-free within three months. The state government has also constituted a five-member Cabinet subcommittee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

DGP Gaurav Yadav, who was monitoring the state-level operation, said CASO was conducted from 9 am to 1 pm simultaneously in all 28 police districts and Special DGP, ADGP, IGP and DIG-rank officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters, Chandigarh, were deputed in each police district to supervise the operation. He said the state government had devised an action plan to make the state drug-free, besides rehabilitating drug addicts.

Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla, said the CPs and SSPs were told to plan the operation in a meticulous manner in their respective districts and conduct raids. Such operations would continue till the scourge of drugs was eradicated from the state, he added.

Over 900 police teams, comprising 8,368 police personnel, under the supervision of 233 gazetted officers cordoned off 369 drug hotspots and conducted 798 raids, he added. The police teams checked over 2,000 suspicious persons and took preventive action against 27. Five proclaimed offenders were also arrested during the operation. In Patiala, the police carried out an extensive search operation. The drive was led by Patiala Range DIG Mandeep Singh Sidhu and SSP Nanak Singh.

Simultaneous search operations were conducted in Patiala city, Patran, Samana, Nabha, Rajpura, Ghanaur and Ghagga, with the deployment of 800 police personnel. The operation yielded major success as several local residents came forward to provide information about suspected drug peddlers, reflecting a strong public commitment towards eliminating drugs from society.

DIG Mandeep Singh Sidhu said public participation in the campaign would mark a turning point in the battle against drugs. “If public cooperation continues at this pace, Patiala district will be free of drugs within a month,” he said. SSP Nanak Singh said around 100 houses were searched, resulting in the registration of 10 FIRs. The police confiscated Rs 4 lakh drug money, seized 35 vehicles and detained 25 suspects. He urged the public to support the police in the fight against drugs.

In Fazilka, the police claimed to have nabbed 11 persons on Saturday. SSP Varinder Singh Brar said 11 FIRs were registered against anti-social elements.

During the campaign, 129 suspicious individuals were questioned, resulting in the detention of eight persons. He said 54 gm heroin, 155 litre country-made liquor, Rs 34,100 cash, 665 intoxicating tablets and a bike were seized during the operation.

In Muktsar, the district police claimed to have arrested 20 drug peddlers, seized 800 intoxicant tablets, 150 litre “lahan”, 35 gm heroin, 35 bottles of illicit liquor and Rs 1 lakh drug money. IGP (Intelligence) Babu Lal Meena supervised the operation. Muktsar SSP Akhil Chaudhary said 16 FIRs were registered on Saturday.

In Sangrur, nine FIRs were registered and seven persons were arrested under the NDPS and Excise Act.