{"id":58263,"date":"2026-01-07T19:22:16","date_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:52:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/punjabenews.com\/English\/?p=58263"},"modified":"2026-01-07T19:22:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T13:52:30","slug":"aap-launches-phase-2-of-yudh-nashean-virudh-war-against-drugs-intensifies-across-punjab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/punjabenews.com\/English\/punjab\/aap-launches-phase-2-of-yudh-nashean-virudh-war-against-drugs-intensifies-across-punjab\/","title":{"rendered":"AAP Launches Phase 2 of \u2018Yudh Nashean Virudh\u2019; War Against Drugs Intensifies Across Punjab"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">\u2018Pind De Pehredar\u2019 Rise as Punjab\u2019s Frontline Warriors in War Against Drugs Phase 2, Already 1.5 Lakh Strong Force: Baltej Pannu<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">Punjab News:<\/span> With Punjab\u2019s decisive anti-drug offensive entering a new and more aggressive phase, the Aam Aadmi Party government (AAP) on Tuesday formally launched Phase 2 of \u2018Yudh Nashean Virudh\u2019, shifting the focus from large-scale enforcement to community-led vigilance and zero tolerance. Building on the outcomes of Phase 1, which saw over 30,000 drug cases registered, more than 43,000 arrests and a record conviction rate of nearly 87\u201388 percent, the renewed push aims to tighten the noose around drug peddlers by placing villages and neighbourhoods at the centre of the fight.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The launch of \u2018Pind De Pehredar\u2019, a growing force of nearly 1.5 lakh volunteers, along with a dedicated mobile application enabling direct and confidential reporting, marks a clear escalation of the campaign, signalling that Punjab\u2019s war against drugs has moved decisively into a people-driven phase where citizens are no longer spectators but frontline enforcers.<\/p>\n<p>Addressing a press conference, AAP Punjab Media In-charge Baltej Pannu said the anti-drug campaign launched by the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab Government is not merely a government initiative but a mass people\u2019s movement aimed at wiping out the blot of drugs from Punjab permanently. \u201cThe campaign was formally launched on March 1, 2025, with a clear resolve to fight drugs like a war, at every level and without compromise,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The AAP Punjab Media In-charge stated, \u201cThe fight against drugs was launched on March 1, 2025, with a clear resolve to fight it like a war. Punjab was first divided into five zones, followed by the appointment of zone heads, district-level teams, ward-level outreach and finally door-to-door and village-level mobilisation with active support from the Nasha Mukti Morcha. We reached every village, every ward and every mohalla.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Sharing concrete data from the campaign, Baltej Pannu said that between March 1 and January 5, Punjab Police registered 30,104 drug-related cases and arrested 43,437 accused. He added that during this period, police recovered 1,886 kilograms of heroin, 0.266 kilograms of smack, 603 kilograms of opium and 27,374 kilograms of poppy husk. \u201cThese are not hollow claims but solid results of a sustained and well-planned crackdown,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Highlighting the impact of the campaign, Baltej Pannu said Punjab\u2019s conviction rate in drug-related cases has now risen to nearly 87\u201388 percent, the highest the state has ever seen. \u201cEarlier, such conviction rates were unimaginable. Today, police, the administration and social organisations are fighting together, and the results are clearly visible on the ground,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Explaining the approach of Phase 1, Baltej Pannu said it focused not only on strict enforcement but also on changing social behaviour. \u201cPeople were urged not to support drug smugglers and not to hate drug users, but instead help them reach government de-addiction centres. We transformed these centres by improving medicines, testing facilities and the overall environment, so people no longer fear going there,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>He further said that innovative rehabilitation models were introduced to ensure long-term recovery. Citing a pilot project from Fatehgarh Sahib, Baltej Pannu said ITI instructors were brought directly to de-addiction centres. \u201cThose who quit drugs completely were connected with skill training and jobs, so that they do not fall back into addiction,\u201d Baltej Pannu said.<\/p>\n<p>Announcing the launch of Phase 2 of the anti-drug campaign, Baltej Pannu said it was formally rolled out today at Lovely Professional University in the presence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal. He said Phase 2 will focus on community vigilance and a zero-tolerance approach against drug peddling.<\/p>\n<p>Under Phase 2, Village Defence Committees named \u2018Pindaan De Pehredar\u2019 or Village Guardians will play a decisive role, Baltej Pannu said. \u201cToday, between 1.25 lakh and 1.5 lakh people have already joined as village guardians, showing the strength of public participation in this movement,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Baltej Pannu said AAP has also launched a dedicated mobile application accessible only to registered village guardians. \u201cThrough this app, they can confidentially report information about drug sellers, including names, locations, addresses or contact details. The identity of the informer will remain completely protected,\u201d Baltej Pannu asserted. He added that the information will go directly to the Chief Minister and the DGP, triggering immediate investigation and swift action within hours, depending on the nature of the case.<\/p>\n<p>He also announced the launch of a missed call number to allow any Punjabi to join the anti-drug movement easily. \u201cAnyone who wants to be part of this war against drugs can join with just one missed call. We are confident that in the coming days, lakhs of people will join this mission,\u201d Baltej Pannu said.<\/p>\n<p>Concluding, Baltej Pannu said the government and people together are determined to eliminate drug peddling from Punjab. \u201cWe are creating an environment where drug peddlers will disappear, just like dinosaurs vanished years ago. This is a people\u2019s war, and together we will make Punjab completely drug-free,\u201d Baltej Pannu said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u2018Pind De Pehredar\u2019 Rise as Punjab\u2019s Frontline Warriors in War Against Drugs Phase 2, Already 1.5 Lakh Strong Force: Baltej Pannu Punjab News: With Punjab\u2019s decisive anti-drug offensive entering a new and more aggressive phase, the Aam Aadmi Party government (AAP) on Tuesday formally launched Phase 2 of \u2018Yudh Nashean Virudh\u2019, shifting the focus from [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":58214,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19,21,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-58263","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest","category-political-news","category-punjab"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>AAP Launches Phase 2 of \u2018Yudh Nashean Virudh\u2019; 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