CM Mann directs officers to intensify ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ till Punjab becomes drug-free

Bathinda, 29 June (H.S.): Expressing satisfaction over the progress of Punjab’s ongoing anti-drug campaign, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday directed Deputy Commissioners, Commissioners of Police and Senior Superintendents of Police to further intensify the “Yudh Nashean Virudh” drive until the state is completely freed from the scourge of drugs.

Chairing a virtual review meeting to assess the functioning of Village Defence Committees, the Chief Minister said the campaign had succeeded in breaking the backbone of the drug network by snapping supply lines and putting major drug smugglers behind bars. He said there could be no let-up in the drive and called for stronger grassroots action, greater public participation and regular confidence-building measures in villages.

“The supply line of drugs has already been snapped and the big fish involved in this heinous crime have been put behind bars. However, the momentum of this campaign has to be maintained and it must be intensified further until Punjab is completely free from drugs,” Mann said.

The Chief Minister said members of the Village Defence Committees had been performing their duties effectively and had lodged more than 13,000 complaints against drug smugglers during the last three months. He directed officers to encourage these committees in districts where their participation was comparatively low.

He said meetings of Village Defence Committees must be held every month in every district, adding that he would personally review their performance during monthly state-level meetings. Mann said drug abuse was a global problem, but Punjab had launched an unprecedented and determined campaign against it.

The Chief Minister said a 1.50 lakh-strong force of Village Defence Committee members had been constituted to make Punjab drug-free. He added that public participation was essential because the fight against drugs had to become a mass movement. Drug addiction, he said, was a social problem and people’s involvement was necessary to ensure the long-term success of the campaign.

Mann asked DCs and SSPs to secure wholehearted support from every section of society so that no drugs are sold in their areas and every drug victim is brought out of addiction. He said police teams should regularly visit villages and interact with residents to understand the ground situation. He also directed that the identity of Village Defence Committee members and citizens giving information about drug smugglers must remain strictly confidential.

The Chief Minister said the state government had focused on dismantling the supply chain by arresting drug peddlers and sending them behind bars. As the supply line had been disrupted, more victims were now approaching de-addiction and rehabilitation centres. He said the government had established an extensive network of such centres to help addicts recover and lead lives of dignity and self-respect.

Mann said the capacity of existing de-addiction and rehabilitation centres had been substantially enhanced under the ongoing campaign. Several new centres had been opened, while facilities and the overall environment at existing centres had been improved. He said the number of beds in government-managed de-addiction and rehabilitation centres had been increased from 1,500 to 5,000.

He further said Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment centres had also been upgraded and uninterrupted availability of essential medicines had been ensured. The number of OOAT centres had increased from 529 to 565. He asked officers to personally ensure adequate availability of medicines, consumables and beds at all OOAT and de-addiction centres under their jurisdiction.

Highlighting the “Soorma” initiative, the Chief Minister said the programme recognises people who have successfully overcome drug addiction and remained sober for more than two years. These Soormas will now work with the government as Ambassadors of Recovery to inspire others to defeat addiction.

Mann said the Punjab Government had adopted a zero-tolerance policy against drugs and launched a decisive crusade against the menace. He expressed confidence that Punjab Police, with its glorious history of handling difficult situations, would make Punjab drug-free with people’s active cooperation.

He said the war against drugs could be won only through meticulous planning and effective execution at the micro level, for which every officer must play a proactive role.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH