Amritsar | A big public meeting was held in Amritsar under the “War against Drugs” campaign being run by the Punjab Government. Earlier this public meeting was scheduled on May 2 at Khalsa College, Amritsar, but it had to be canceled due to change in the program of CM Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal.
Today Cabinet Minister Hardeep Singh Mundian and Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO started the drug de-addiction campaign from Shri Valmiki Tirth. Cabinet Minister Mundian said that since March 1, 2025, Punjab Police has registered about 8 thousand FIRs against drugs and arrested thousands of smugglers. Appreciating the contribution of rural level defense committees, he said that this success has been possible only with the cooperation of the people.
Recovery and action
In the action taken so far, the police have recovered three and a half kg of heroin, about 10,000 kg of poppy, 160 kg of opium, ganja, hashish, intoxicant pills and other substances. Apart from this, properties built from illegal earnings have also been seized.
Mundiyan said that now is the time to end the demand for drugs. For this, it is necessary that the victims of drug addiction should be treated. He told that de-addiction centers have been opened in every district and a huge rehabilitation center with 700 beds is working in Amritsar. He appealed to the people to consider the drug addicts of their locality or village as patients and bring them forward for treatment, the government will get them treated free of cost.
Praise for the people of border areas
Cabinet Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that now the drug smugglers have got scared of the villagers. He said that if the public’s support remains like this, then the deadline of drug-free Punjab by May 31 set by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann will definitely be met.
Appeal of police and administration
Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar assured that all information received from the public will be kept confidential and strict action will be taken against smugglers. Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sahni appealed to the village panchayats, councilors and the general public to come forward to get the drug addicts treated. District Police Chief Maninder Singh said that with the cooperation of the people, the smuggling network in the border area has been broken.
Also administered oath to end drug addiction
On this occasion, people were made aware about the ill effects of drug addiction through street plays by Azad Bhagat Singh Virasat Manch. Cabinet ministers also administered oath to the members of the Defense Committee for a drug-free society.
Mayor Jatinder Singh Moti Bhatia, MLA Dr. Inderbir Singh Nijjar, Mrs. Jeevanjot Kaur, Dr. Ajay Gupta, Dr. Jasbir Singh Sandhu, Dalbir Singh Tong, Sonia Mann, Mr. Dixit Dhawan, Kuldeep Singh Mattewal, DIG Satinder Singh, Chairman Baldev Singh Miyadian, Karamjit Singh Rintu, Jaspreet Singh, Juginderpal Singh Jagga Majithia, Iqbal Singh, Naresh Pathak and many other dignitaries were present in the program.