Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, March 1, 2025: As part of the strategy to root out drug abuse under the 'War Against Drugs' of the Bhagwant Singh Mann government of Punjab, a special checking drive was carried out in Balongi area in Mohali today under the leadership of Special DGP (Law & Order) Arpit Shukla.
He said that a special checking drive was launched in 228 hot-spot areas under 25 districts and 3 commissionerates across Punjab today under the Cordon and Search Operation (CASO). He said that today senior police officers of Punjab have been deployed in the field to lead and monitor different locations under this drive.
He said that about 280 police officers and personnel participated in Operation CASO in Mohali, including one SP, 9 DSPs, three traffic in-charges and 254 other police personnel. He said that during this time 12 suspects were detained for questioning while a case was registered against one person for possession of drugs.
He himself participated in this search operation along with DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar of Ropar Range and SSP Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar Deepak Pareek.
According to Mr. Shukla, on the instructions of the Punjab government, along with efforts to rehabilitate the drug-affected youth of Punjab, strict action is being taken against drug smugglers. He said that last year, property worth about Rs 600 crore of drug smugglers from whom commercial quantities of drugs were recovered in Punjab has been seized.
Responding to a question asked by the media regarding control of drug consignments from across the border, Special DGP Arpit Shukla said that 7 districts of the state are adjacent to the international border, which has a 554 km long border. He said that the Punjab Police has maintained full coordination with the Border Security Force to prevent drug smuggling through drones or other means.
He said that apart from this, the civil defense line has also been strengthened. He said that the role of Village Defence Committees in this matter is very commendable. He said that Punjab Government has also sanctioned an amount of Rs. 40 crores for installing CCTV cameras at sensitive places in border areas for prevention and surveillance.
He said that this campaign against drug abuse will continue till drug abuse is eradicated from Punjab.
SP (City) Harveer Singh Atwal, DSP Kharar Karan Singh Sandhu and DSP Mohit Agarwal were also present on this occasion.