First-ever ‘SHO Milni’ held at Phillaur; 450 ASIs to be recruited directly, 3,400 police personnel currently undergoing training

Chandigarh, 03 October (H.S.): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Saturday announced that 10,000 new personnel would be recruited into the Punjab Police, as the state government moves to strengthen its campaign against drug trafficking and organised crime. The announcement was made during a first-of-its-kind ‘SHO Milni’ held at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Police Academy in Phillaur.

Addressing police officers from the DGP level to Station House Officers, Mann said the government had given the police freedom to take all lawful action against drug smugglers under the ongoing ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign. He asked officers to strengthen public participation by visiting villages, towns and educational institutions and encouraging people to share information about drug-related activities.

The Chief Minister said the government was simultaneously expanding the police force. According to him, 450 Assistant Sub-Inspectors will be recruited directly, while around 3,400 recruits are presently undergoing training. An additional 10,000 police posts are proposed to be advertised in the coming financial year through what the government described as a merit-based recruitment process.

Mann said SHOs were the face of policing at the grassroots level and carried responsibility for providing citizens with timely justice and security. He stressed that public cooperation was important, but police officers were responsible for taking prompt action once actionable information was received.

The Chief Minister also highlighted efforts to modernise Punjab Police through CCTV cameras, anti-drone systems, modern vehicles and technology-based surveillance, including the use of artificial intelligence. He said technology had become increasingly important as drug trafficking and organised criminal networks adopted more sophisticated methods.

Focusing on rehabilitation, Mann said the anti-drug campaign should not remain limited to arrests. He asked police officers to organise awareness programmes in educational institutions and said people affected by addiction should receive opportunities for de-addiction, rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

Sharing figures from the government’s anti-drug campaign, Mann said that during the past four-and-a-half years, more than 95,644 FIRs under the NDPS Act had been registered, around 1.27 lakh arrests made and over 7,265 kg of heroin recovered. He further said properties worth ₹375 crore belonging to alleged drug smugglers had been seized. These figures were presented by the Chief Minister during the event.

Mann also highlighted the challenge posed by Punjab’s 553-km international border with Pakistan and said border districts required greater vigilance against cross-border drug smuggling through drones. Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, DGP Gaurav Yadav and other senior officials were present at the programme.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH