Punjab Newsline, Chandigarh:
Over 30,000 cases, 43,000 arrests and record 87–88% conviction rate mark Phase 1; ‘Pind De Pehredar’ to lead zero-tolerance drive in Phase 2
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has intensified its crackdown on drug menace with the formal launch of Phase 2 of its flagship campaign ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’. Moving beyond large-scale enforcement, the new phase places villages and neighbourhoods at the heart of the anti-drug fight, transforming citizens into active stakeholders in what the government calls a people’s war against drugs.
AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said Phase 2 builds on the strong foundation laid during Phase 1, which began on March 1, 2025. During this period, Punjab Police registered 30,104 drug-related cases and arrested 43,437 accused. Massive recoveries were also made, including 1,886 kg of heroin, 603 kg of opium and over 27,000 kg of poppy husk. Most significantly, conviction rates in drug cases surged to a historic 87–88 percent, reflecting stronger investigations and coordinated prosecution.
Explaining the strategy, Pannu said the campaign was designed like a war operation. Punjab was divided into zones with dedicated teams at district, ward and village levels. Door-to-door outreach and village mobilisation were carried out with support from the Nasha Mukti Morcha to ensure no area was left untouched. Alongside strict action against smugglers, the government also focused on changing social attitudes, urging people to support rehabilitation instead of stigmatising drug users.
De-addiction centres were upgraded with better medicines, testing facilities and improved infrastructure. Innovative rehabilitation models were introduced, including skill training programmes at de-addiction centres, enabling recovered addicts to reconnect with livelihoods and avoid relapse.
Phase 2, launched at Lovely Professional University in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal, shifts focus to zero tolerance against drug peddlers through community vigilance. Central to this phase are the ‘Pind De Pehredar’ (Village Guardians), a volunteer force that has already grown to between 1.25 lakh and 1.5 lakh members across Punjab.
To empower these volunteers, the government has launched a dedicated mobile application through which registered guardians can confidentially report drug sellers. The information will reach the Chief Minister and the DGP directly, ensuring swift investigation and action while fully protecting the informer’s identity. A missed-call facility has also been introduced to allow more citizens to join the movement easily.
Calling it a decisive moment, Pannu said this collective resolve will make drug peddling unsustainable in Punjab. “This is not just the government’s fight. It is a people’s war, and together we will make Punjab drug-free,” he asserted.