Punjab Police has initiated a large-scale drug crackdown, carrying out raids at 750 locations across the state. Officials said the operation coincided with the first meeting of the cabinet sub-committee on the drug menace held on Saturday. Approximately 12,000 police personnel participated in the anti-drug campaign as part of the ongoing efforts to combat drug-related crimes.

On Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann set a three-month deadline to eliminate drugs from the state. As part of the government’s intensified crackdown, action is being taken against drug traffickers and in some cases, their properties have been demolished.

On Saturday, Cabinet Minister Aman Arora urged all political parties to support the government’s anti-drug campaign rather than politicising the issue, emphasising the need to save Punjab from the drug menace. Chief Secretary KAP Sinha and Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav attended the cabinet sub-committee meeting.

After the meeting, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, who leads the cabinet sub-committee, told the media that the first session of the “Yudh Nashia Virudh” campaign was conducted to take strict action against drug peddlers and smugglers.

“The Aam Aadmi Party has launched a big attack against drugs. (CM Bhagwant) Mann has issued strict instructions. As per directions of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal’s directions, we will take strict action. Soon, not even a single drug peddler will be found in Punjab,” he declared.

A cabinet sub-committee has assigned members to different districts to oversee police efforts against drug-related crimes. Cheema will monitor Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur, Rupnagar, and Tarn Taran operations. Arora will be responsible for Ludhiana, Patiala, Kapurthala, Mohali, Amritsar and Jalandhar. Minister Taranpreet Singh Sond will oversee efforts in Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Fatehgarh Sahib, Moga and Malerkotla while Laljit Singh Bhullar will focus on Faridkot, Muktsar, Fazilka, Mansa, and Ferozepur. Meanwhile, Health Minister Balbir Singh will lead the state's drug de-addiction and rehabilitation programs.

Addressing reporters, Arora strongly criticised previous governments for allowing the drug problem to grow. “A 360-degree action is visible on the ground,” he stated, highlighting the ongoing police crackdown on drug peddlers across the state.

“Those who are drug addicts, the health department will not treat them as criminals. They will be treated as patients, and they will be treated in hospitals,” Arora stated.

He acknowledged that completely stopping “the rivers of drugs,” which he blamed on past governments, was not entirely possible without the support of Punjab’s 3 crore people.

Arora assured all political parties, religious groups, and social organisations that the Punjab government and Kejriwal and Mann are committed to eradicating the “cancer of drugs from the state.”

“I want to urge them that it is not an issue of a party or a government, but it is about saving Punjab, the youth and future generations… I want to urge all political parties that they should give their support over this (anti-drug campaign) issue instead of playing politics so that we save our next generation,” described Arora.

The state government has set up a committee, headed by Finance Minister Cheema, to monitor the efforts of the police and health departments in combating drug-related issues.