With 80 FIRs, 109 arrests daily, Punjab sees new ‘high’ in chitta crackdown

Punjab has recorded the highest-ever number of FIRs and arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in the first nine months of this year, with the police attributing the surge to their ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’ campaign.

A total of 22,045 FIRs were lodged at a daily average of 80 cases up to September 30, according to state government data. The police also arrested 29,933 drug smugglers and peddlers during the same period, averaging 109 arrests per day. About 1,566 kg of “chitta” (a synthetic drug made from heroin) was also seized, breaking the previous record of 1,352 kg seized in an entire year in 2023.

The previous highest number of FIRs (14,483) as well as arrests (17,022) in a year under the NDPS Act were recorded in 2014.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the sharp increase in the arrests and FIRs was due to the statewide crackdown against drugs under the ‘Yudh Nashiyan Virudh’ drive. He said police helplines, counter-intelligence operations, Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and district-level operations had contributed to the success.

“Our focus is on breaking the drug-smuggling nexus. We have been successful in pursuing cases against smugglers and this year, Punjab has recorded an 87 per cent conviction rate, which is highest in the country,” said the DGP. He also said the police had established forward and backward linkages of the accused, maintained systematic records, including of voice and photographs, and linked these to investigations in other cases.

As per the data, over 350 major smugglers have been arrested, each caught with at least 2 kg of heroin. The DGP said Punjab continued to be used as a transit point for drugs, and that the state was fighting the country’s battle against the menace.

The drug problem in Punjab is not only a police or social issue, but also a significant political topic that has shaped electoral debates since 2012. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi brought attention to the crisis during the 2012 Assembly elections by claiming that nearly 70 per cent of Punjab’s youth had a drug problem. The issue remained central in subsequent elections, with the BJP’s 2014 manifesto naming the fight against drugs as its top priority. The Congress government under Capt Amarinder Singh later took an oath committing to act against drugs. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party government has also promised to root out the menace.

The drug issue is further politicised by accusations against certain leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia of the Shiromani Akali Dal. “For the current Bhagwant Mann government, action against drugs serves as a key measure of effective governance and public safety, helping to demonstrate performance to the electorate,” said an analyst.