Panjab Launches ‘War on Drugs’, AAP Blames Union Govt.

Panjab’s fight against drugs intensified as Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on 28 Feb named it ‘War on Drugs’ and directed officials to eradicate the menace within three months, forming a zero-tolerance strategy and pledging special courts for speedy trials. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government criticized the union govt.for failing to stop cross-border smuggling from Pakistan, citing the Border Security Force’s jurisdiction up to 50 km inside Panjab. To oversee the crackdown, the govt. constituted a five-member Cabinet committee, led by Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, focusing on dismantling supply lines, identifying drug hotspots, and rehabilitating addicts. Meanwhile, AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal warned that those profiting from the drug trade ‘will not be spared.’ Panjab police subsequently launched multiple raids across 28 police districts. On 1 Mar, police conducted 798 raids during a four-hour Cordon-and-Search Operation, arresting 290 suspected smugglers and registering 232 First Information Reports (FIR). An official statement said around 900 teams with over 8K police personnel cordoned off 369 hotspots, checked more than 2K suspects, and arrested five proclaimed offenders. On 2 Mar, police raided 510 locations statewide, and arrested 43 alleged smugglers, registering 27 FIRs. It must be noted this is AAP’s fourth deadline in three years to ‘end drugs’ in Panjab. The first deadline was a promise made in 2022 ahead of Panjab elections. Panjab ministers contend that thousands have been apprehended since 2022. This was the claim of the previous govts. as well—Indian National Congress (2017-2022) and Shiromani Akali Dal (2007-2017). Despite these developments, according to the Drug Policy Alliance 2018 and the Global Commission on Drug Policy 2019, drug wars often fail and intensify gang violence, fuel mass incarceration, and divert vital resources from treatment centers for rehabilitation. They also exacerbate public health issues, stigmatize users, and fail to diminish substance use or protect communities.