Special Training for Village Defence

Hoshiarpur/Daljeet Ajnoha /Oct.28 : Member of Parliament Dr. Raj Kumar Chabbewal announced that special training will be provided to Village Defence Committees to strengthen their role in the state’s anti-drug campaign. Chairing an important meeting with representatives of the Nasha Mukti Morcha and administrative officials at the District Administrative Complex today, Dr. Chabbewal said the Punjab Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is making determined efforts to rebuild a “Rangla Punjab” free from the menace of drugs.Dr. Chabbewal noted that under the ongoing “War Against Drugs” campaign, villages, towns, and cities are being mobilized through the Nasha Mukti Morcha to unite people against narcotics. “To make the campaign more effective, Village Defence Committees will be trained to play an active role in eliminating this social evil from their respective areas,” he said.Giving details of the state’s performance, Dr. Chabbewal said that so far, 21,000 FIRs have been registered and more than 34,000 drug peddlers have been arrested across Punjab. He added that a 97 percent conviction rate in these cases demonstrates the government’s resolve and the judiciary’s efficiency in tackling the drug crisis.Highlighting the government’s measures to disrupt drug networks, he mentioned that illegal properties of traffickers are being seized, creating a strong deterrent effect. “Along with strict enforcement, the district is focusing equally on the rehabilitation of addicted youth,” he said, adding that Hoshiarpur’s de-addiction and rehabilitation centre has emerged as the largest and most effective in the state.Deputy Commissioner Aashika Jain informed that the district administration and police are working jointly, with active community involvement ensuring major success. “The de-addiction centres in the district have been strengthened, and the capacity has been increased to 500 beds,” she said.Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Kumar Malik reported that 1,000 FIRs have been filed in Hoshiarpur district, leading to the arrest of 1,200 accused persons. Assets worth over Rs 12 crore have also been seized during the ongoing crackdown.Doaba Zone Coordinator of the Nasha Mukti Morcha, Nayan Chhabra, stated that awareness campaigns are being conducted across villages to inform people about the harmful effects of drug addiction. He said that Hoshiarpur district has witnessed the maximum number of anti-drug actions in the state, which reflects the administration’s strong commitment.District Coordinator Satwant Singh Siyan and other officials, including ADC (Development) Nikas Kumar, SP Manpreet Sheemar, SDMs, DSPs, and departmental representatives, also attended the meeting.