Information and Public Relations Department, Punjab

Yudh Nashian Virudh; AAP Government’s Zero Tolerance Policy Yields Results, 86% Conviction Rate Achieved- Harpal Singh Cheema

530 FIRs registered, 697 arrested, narcotics including 42 KG Heroin, 15 KG opium and 41027 medical drugs Seized Under Yudh Nashian Virudh Campaign

SBS Nagar Registers impressive performance, noting a 99 percent conviction rate

Directs Authorities to Intensify Efforts Against Banned Drug Sales, Highlights Crucial Role of Drug Inspectors

Slams Previous SAD-BJP and Congress Governments Over Drug Menace

Says, Synthetic Drug "Chitta" Emerges During SAD-BJP Regime

Nawanshahr , March 6

The Chairman of the Yudh Nashian Virudh Cabinet Sub-Committee Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema Friday declared that under this decisive move to combat the illicit drug trade a stringent zero-tolerance policy has been adopted against individuals involved in drug trafficking. He said that no one involved in this scourge or attempting to shield offenders will be spared, regardless of their position or influence.

Chairing meeting of Civil and Police administration of SBS Nagar during the second leg of his whirlwind tour of districts to boost the Yudh Nashian Virudh Campaign across the state, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema revealed that 530 FIRs have been registered, 697 individuals arrested, and narcotics including 42 KG Heroin, 15 KG opium and 41027 medical drugs have been seized in the state from March 1 to March 5 under Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign. 

The Finance Minister said that various activities including cordon & search of Hotspots under the supervision of senior police officials, checking of Jails for Mobile Phones, checking of Chemist Shops, raids on known Smugglers, Drug Traffikers and couriers are being conducted in the state besides encouraging public participation through meetings with the students in Urban and Rural Schools and Colleges and organizing Sampark meetings under anti-drug campaign. The Finance Minister Cheema directed the authorities to intensify their efforts against the sale of banned drugs, emphasizing the crucial role of drug inspectors in this endeavour.

Later, Interacting with the media, the Finance Minister said that while the conviction rate was 58 percent during the previous Congress government, it has increased to 86 percent over the last three years under the AAP led state government, with a goal to reach 100 percent. He highlighted the SBS Nagar's impressive performance, noting a 99 percent conviction rate. He said that not a single defaulter has been granted bail, and out of 46 decided cases, 44 have resulted in convictions.

"No one had ever heard of Chitta (synthetic drugs) before the SAD-BJP regime from 2007 to 2017. Even Captain Amarinder Singh's oath at Sri Talwandi Sabo proved futile during his tenure, and later Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi also failed to curb the drug menace in the state," said the Finance Minister. He added that now the majority of drug dealers are behind bars, their properties are being attached, and others have either quit or are fleeing from the state.

On this occasion, Deputy Commissioner Ankurjeet Singh, SSP Dr. Mehtab Singh, Punjab State Technical Education Board Vice Chairman Lalit Mohan Pathak, Chairman District Planning Committee Satnam Jalalpur, Vice Chairman Punjab Water Resources Management and Development Board Kuljit Singh Sarhal, Chairman Improvement Trust Nawanshahr Satnam Singh Jalwaha, Chairman Market Committee Nawanshahr Gagan Agnihotri, Chairman Market Committee Banga Balbir Karnana, Trustee of Improvement Trust Nawanshahr Harjot Kaur Lohtia, Youth Secretary Robbie Kang, Additional Deputy Commissioner (G) Rajiv Verma, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Rural Development) Avneet Kaur, Sub Divisional Magistrate Balachaur Ravinder Bansal, Sub Divisional Magistrate Banga Vipan Bhandari and various other officials of civil and police administration were present.