CHANDIGARH, March 3:

With the war against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” waged by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eradicate drug menace from state entered third day, Punjab Police on Monday arrested of 70 drug smugglers, including two after exchange of fire, and registered 48 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 403 in just three days.

Police teams have also recovered 4.63 kg heroin, 500 grams ganja, 100 grams opium, 1548 intoxicant tablets/pills/injections and Rs 1.32 lakh drug money from the possession of arrested drug smugglers.

The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav simultaneously in all 28 Police districts of the state.

Notably, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has asked the Commissioners of Police, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendent of Police to make Punjab drug free state in coming three months. The Punjab government has also constituted a 5-member Cabinet Sub Committee led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema to monitor the war against drugs.

Divulging details, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that Amritsar Rural police had apprehended accused Jagtar Singh and Angrez Singh on Saturday, seizing 1 kg of ICE (methamphetamine) and ₹1.4 lakh drug money from their possession. Following disclosures of Jagtar Singh, police teams were taking him for recovery when he attempted to escape from police custody near Defence drain Attari, prompting the police to open fire, injuring his right leg, he said, while adding that, the accused was recaptured and provided immediate medical attention.

He said that in another operation, Amritsar Commissionerate Police has apprehended a notorious drug smuggler identified as Sahil alias Neela of Faizpura in Amritsar, after a brief exchange of fire took place near Palm Garden Colony in jurisdiction of Sadar Police Station. Police teams were chasing the accused, when he opened fire at the police party, prompting police teams to retaliate, he said, while adding that police teams have recovered .32 bore pistol from his possession.

The Special DGP said that with the state government has enforced a three-pronged strategy— Enforcement, Deaddiction and Prevention (EDP)— to eradicate drugs from the state, the Punjab Police as part of ‘Prevention’ has also been organising different events to spread awareness among people about the detrimental effects of drugs and get support of the general public in fight against drugs. As many as 137 awareness events, which includes awareness camps, seminars and public meetings were organised on Sunday in all the 28 Police districts, he added.

Meanwhile, Punjab Police has also carried out search operation at eight different jails including Central Jail Patiala, New Jail Nabha, Open Jail Nabha, District Jails— Sangrur, Barnala, Bathinda, Mansa and Rupnagar, in the state to check any illegal activities in the jail. “Our Police teams have thoroughly searched every nook and corner including barracks, kitchen and toilets in the jail complex,” said Special DGP Arpit Shukla.

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