Chandigarh, March 31
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab President and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora shared details of the police crackdown under the Punjab government's anti-drug campaign, 'War Against Drugs', highlighting its success and impact.
On Monday, Aman Arora, along with AAP leaders Dr. Sunny Ahluwalia and Gurdev Lakhna, addressed a press conference at the party office in Chandigarh. He stated that the 'War Against Drugs' campaign has yielded highly encouraging results across Punjab. The public has welcomed the initiative, expressing their appreciation for the government's efforts.
He mentioned that the Punjab Police has been successfully executing the campaign throughout the state. So far, nearly 2,400 kg of narcotic substances, including large quantities of heroin, opium, and ganja, have been seized. Additionally, 2,721 cases have been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and 4,592 drug smugglers have been arrested.
Apart from this, over 850,000 drug pills and ₹5.87 crore in cash have been recovered. Furthermore, 51 properties belonging to drug traffickers have been demolished. These properties were illegally constructed using drug money and unauthorized land occupation. Additionally, 52 drug smugglers have been injured in police encounters.
Arora said that AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are determined to eradicate drugs and drug trafficking from Punjab completely. He criticized the previous Congress and Akali-BJP governments, accusing them of fostering drug networks by providing protection to traffickers, which led to the widespread drug crisis in Punjab.
He pointed out that the strict actions taken by the Punjab Police have forced many drug traffickers to flee, locking up their homes. Many have already been arrested, while several others have been injured in police encounters. Since the launch of the campaign, drug smuggling from Pakistan has significantly declined, as there are no longer buyers or transporters within Punjab. Even those who attempt to engage in drug smuggling are being immediately caught by the police, effectively breaking the supply chain.
To further reduce drug demand, the health department is working extensively, ensuring that both government and private hospitals, along with all de-addiction centers, provide proper treatment and counseling to drug-dependent individuals. As a result, there has been a significant decline in drug consumption.
Arora urged the people of Punjab and social organizations to actively support the campaign, stating that only through widespread awareness and collective efforts can Punjab be completely freed from the menace of drugs.