One Year of 'Yudh Nashean Virudh' - 36,178 FIRs, 51,648 Arrests, Bhagwant Mann Govt's Relentless War on Drugs Intensifies Further: Baltej Pannu

Chandigarh, March 2, 2026: Marking one year of the Mann Government’s ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab Media In-charge and Chief Spokesperson of Nasha Mukti Morcha Baltej Pannu said Punjab is fighting a systematic and multi-dimensional war against drugs unmatched anywhere in the world. Addressing the media, Baltej Pannu declared the campaign as a historic and people-driven movement that has transformed the fight against narcotics into a structured and result-oriented mission.
AAP Punjab State General Secretary and Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said, “Drug abuse is a global menace. We are witnessing developments in countries like Mexico and Canada, and even other Indian states have reported large recoveries. But no state or country is fighting this battle as systematically as Punjab.”
Sharing official data from the past year, Baltej Pannu stated, “In one year, 36,178 FIRs have been registered and 51,648 arrests made. Drug money worth ₹16.70 crore has been recovered. Major recoveries include 2,276.98 kg heroin, 29,299 kg poppy husk, 686 kg opium, 807.96 kg ganja, 36.47 kg ice, 68 kg charas, and 4.46 kg cocaine, along with 50k tablets and capsules and 1,985 injections. Punjab has recorded the highest major recoveries in the country.”
He stated that the campaign was launched after long preparation, with the understanding that no fight directly connected with people can succeed without public participation. “Under the Nasha Mukti Morcha, Punjab was divided into five zones: Doaba, Majha, Malwa East, Malwa West and Malwa Central. We further built district and constituency-level structures. Village Defence Committees were formed across Punjab, and lakhs participated in a massive gathering at Killi Chahal near Moga,” Baltej Pannu said.
Explaining the accountability mechanism, Baltej Pannu said, “Village Defence Committee members have been given a secure app to report drug peddlers directly to police headquarters, and action is mandated within 48 hours. Over 2,000 complaints have led to FIRs and arrests after due verification.”
He added that de-addiction centres have undergone a structural transformation. “Under previous governments, these centres functioned like jail-like facilities. Today, they are clean and supportive spaces. We have introduced skill training in plumbing, electrical work, fast food and other trades. ITI instructors and private firms are assisting in rehabilitation and employment, ensuring that those who return from addiction re-enter society with dignity,” Baltej Pannu said.
Targeting the earlier regimes, Baltej Pannu said, “The 2007–2017 Akali-BJP government allowed the drug mafia to take deep roots in Punjab. Narcotics networks were systemically entrenched during that decade through political patronage and deliberate inaction.” He added, “The subsequent 2017–2022 Congress government also failed to dismantle this nexus despite tall promises. Captain Amarinder Singh took an oath holding Gutka Sahib, vowing to end drugs within weeks, but instead of delivering, he retreated into silence and inaction.”
Baltej Pannu said, “For five years, Congress neither broke the supply chains nor held the masterminds accountable, leaving Punjab trapped in what can only be described as a dark abyss. In contrast, the Mann Government has shown the willpower to act decisively and consistently against the drug mafia.”
He asserted that supply lines have been largely broken. “Many smugglers have fled Punjab and locked their houses. We have shown the media videos of these locked homes. These locked houses are proof of strict policing. This crackdown will not weaken,” Baltej Pannu said.
Concluding, Baltej Pannu said, “Punjab was pushed into a dark abyss for over 20 years. This is not our fight alone; it is for the next generation. We will build Rangla Punjab and will not allow it to remain ‘Udta Punjab’.”