Second Phase of the Punjab Government’s Active Campaign Against Drugs

January 10, 2026

Abhishek Vij

On Wednesday, January 7, the Punjab government launched the second phase of its ongoing campaign against drugs from Jalandhar. Present on the stage were AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal, AAP’s Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia, and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. This was the 312th day of the first phase of the anti-drug campaign. In the second phase, the government announced the launch of a scheme called ‘Pind de Pehredar’ (Village Guardians) in every village and informed that 1.5 lakh volunteers would be recruited as guardians.

They will be contacted through an app, and information about the names and activities of drug dealers will be secretly collected. A number has also been released on which a missed call will initiate action. This means that action against drugs will now be further intensified with the help of a mobile application. The government released statistics. From March 1, 2025, to January 5, 2026, during the anti-drug campaign, 30,104 cases were registered, 43,437 accused were arrested, and 1886 kg of heroin, 0.266 kg of smack, 603 kg of opium, and 27,374 kg of poppy husk were seized. Arvind Kejriwal stated that the success of the anti-drug campaign in Punjab is evident in the fact that 80 percent of the registered cases and arrested accused have resulted in convictions.

AAP leaders said that this is now being turned into a mass movement. Our effort is to completely eradicate the stigma of drugs from Punjab. Therefore, this work cannot be accomplished solely through raids, seizures, arrests, or punishments; the mental attitude of the people must also be changed so that they abandon drugs, face life head-on, and contribute fully to making Punjab a vibrant Punjab once again. This is a very good point. The roots of drug addiction are so deep because it has become a rapidly profitable business for drug traffickers. Its roots have spread not only within Punjab but also internationally.

Now the fight must be waged at the public level, not just locally. The drug mafia has become very powerful. Those involved in the illegal supply of narcotics are no longer just local; their roots have reached national and international drug traffickers. Pakistani drones are working day and night to spread drugs in Punjab. The Bhagwant Mann government of Punjab is running an awareness campaign against drugs. The government’s approach is to strike at the root of the problem. The mindset of the young people addicted to drugs must be changed, and they must be given better alternatives for living a life full of dignity and meaningful employment. It has become difficult for young people to migrate abroad at this time, so it is very possible that, not finding a future in the country, they may fall into the clutches of the drug mafia. In this situation, the campaign against drugs by Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Singh Mann is the need of the hour.

This campaign should continue relentlessly, and the necks of the big players should be squeezed in this manner. In the first phase, the government has shown considerable success in the fight against drugs. If the drug menace is eradicated from its roots in the second phase as well, it will be considered a success of the second phase. Bringing the youth along is crucial for this success. If they are provided with better means of regular employment, commensurate with their qualifications, they will join hands with the government and work together to make Punjab a vibrant Punjab once again.