Shift from arrests to networks: Punjab unveils 60-day anti-drug strategy

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs sought detailed reports from the Punjab government regarding multiple drug-linked violent incidents and a suicide. The communications followed the daylight killing of an anti-drug activist in Mansa and the murder of a 40-year-old man in Batala by alleged drug peddlers. Additionally, the Centre demanded a response concerning the alleged suicide of a man following a public dispute with a state minister over the local drug problem.

The developments sparked a political dispute between Union and state leaders. Union officials criticized the Punjab administration over rising drug threats, gangsterism, and organized crime, urging decisive strikes against drug networks and investigations into alleged political patronage. In response, state leadership blamed the Centre and accused federal authorities of failing to stop large-scale drug inflows originating through ports in other states.

Amid the political clash, the Punjab government unveiled a 60-day anti-drug strategy focused on targeting hundreds of identified hotspots through coordinated policing, infrastructure upgrades, and specialized rehabilitation programs. Authorities also announced actions including seizures of illicit medical substances and the suspension of chemist licenses as part of the broader anti-drug drive.

Not yet reported: The articles do not specify the final outcome of the Centre's demands or any subsequent legal penalties or arrests resulting from the police investigations.