Jalandhar: Punjab Cabinet Minister Mohinder Bhagat on Monday chaired a review meeting under the Punjab government’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign in Jalandhar, where concerns over drugs, hookah bars and the alleged sale of intoxicating medicines dominated discussions among party workers, police officials and journalists.
The meeting, attended by AAP leaders, police officials, block coordinators and media representatives, later turned into a sharp press interaction as journalists repeatedly questioned officials over the actual ground situation of the anti-drug drive.
Among those present were Commissionerate of Police Jalandhar Commissioner Satinder Singh, AAP Jalandhar Cantt incharge Rajwinder Kaur Thiara, Jalandhar Central incharge Nitin Kohli, along with senior police officials and local party leaders.
Addressing the gathering, Bhagat said the Punjab government was determined to make the state drug-free. He alleged that the drug problem in Punjab was part of a “Pakistan-backed conspiracy” aimed at destabilising the state and destroying the youth.
Addressing the gathering, Bhagat said the Punjab government was determined to make the state drug-free. He alleged that the drug problem in Punjab was part of a “Pakistan-backed conspiracy” aimed at destabilising the state and destroying the youth.
Officials also claimed that anti-drone systems had been deployed to curb cross-border smuggling and that informers helping the police were being rewarded under incentive schemes. However, beyond the official claims and statistics, several workers openly spoke about the challenges they said still persisted at the ground level.
One worker alleged that drug peddlers had started exchanging territories to avoid police action, claiming that dealers from nearby areas, including the Phagwara side were operating across jurisdictions to escape detection. Concerns were also raised regarding alleged weak action at lower policing levels, informer safety, delays in rehabilitation admissions and the open sale of intoxicating pills through certain medical stores.
Reporters alleged that around 17 to 18 hookah bars were still operating despite repeated raids and temporary closures. Questions were also raised over drugs allegedly being sold near de-addiction centres, the availability of intoxicating medicines at medical stores, online supply networks and the visible presence of intoxicated individuals in public areas.
Some journalists further alleged that women were openly involved in drug sales in certain localities and claimed that videos and sting operations related to such activities already existed.
Throughout the interaction, Bhagat maintained that eliminating drugs is a “continuous process” and said the government would continue the campaign until the issue is totally eradicated. He repeatedly stressed that public cooperation is essential and that such drives take time to show complete results.
Bhagat also claimed, “the Punjab government recently has provided 66,000 permanent jobs to the youth, whereas, 10,000-15,000 more jobs are in the pipeline, giving youth a direction and a motive, so they do not rush towards drugs.”
However, no specific timeline, permanent closure mechanism for repeat offenders or detailed enforcement roadmap was announced during the interaction.
Police officials, meanwhile adopted a more cautious tone. The Commissioner of Police repeatedly appealed for public cooperation, urged journalists and citizens to share information regarding illegal activities and said efforts were being made to bring such activities down to “zero”.
Police officials also assured that the concerns raised during the interaction would be reviewed further and promised another meeting with the media after additional ground-level assessment in the coming weeks.