Chandigarh, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Police has conducted more than 39,000 police-public meetings across the state since the launch of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann-led ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign on March 1, 2025, as part of efforts to strengthen community participation in the fight against drug abuse.
The extensive outreach initiative has emerged as a key component of the state government’s anti-drug campaign, with police engaging directly with students, youth, village communities and urban residents to create awareness and encourage public involvement in prevention efforts.
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said the battle against drugs cannot be won through enforcement measures alone and requires active participation from society.
“The fight against drugs cannot be won through enforcement alone. While Punjab Police remains uncompromising in its action against drug traffickers and organised networks, lasting success can only be achieved when communities become equal partners in prevention and awareness,” he said.
The DGP added that public outreach programmes were helping strengthen trust between police and citizens, encouraging people to report drug-related activities and creating a collective resolve against the menace.
According to Punjab Police, as of August 5, 2026, a total of 10,605 meetings have been conducted with students in schools, colleges and other educational institutions. These interactions focus on educating students about the harmful effects of drugs, promoting healthy lifestyles, addressing peer pressure and encouraging them to report suspicious activities.
Besides educational outreach, 3,303 Sampark Meetings have been organised, particularly targeting youth. These meetings provide a platform for direct interaction between young people, police officers, community leaders and local representatives, while spreading awareness about de-addiction, rehabilitation and prevention.
The campaign has also witnessed large-scale participation from rural and urban communities, with more than 25,328 meetings held with Village Defence Committees (VDCs) and Ward Defence Committees.
The meetings are being organised regularly across Punjab, with five districts selected every day for intensive police-public interaction programmes. Larger gatherings are chaired by officers of SP rank, while local-level meetings are led by Station House Officers (SHOs) to ensure wider public participation.
Punjab currently has around 13,000 Village Defence Committees comprising nearly 1.25 lakh volunteers. These members include village elders, retired defence and police personnel, teachers and other prominent community members.
Working alongside Punjab Police and the Health Department, VDC members assist in spreading awareness, sharing information about drug-related activities and helping connect affected individuals with de-addiction and rehabilitation services.
ADGP, Anti-Narcotics Task Force, Nilabh Kishore, said the campaign had taken the anti-drug message to classrooms, villages and urban neighbourhoods.
“More than 39,000 police-public meetings have created a strong platform for dialogue, awareness and community engagement. This sustained outreach complements our enforcement efforts by encouraging people to share information, supporting de-addiction and making communities active stakeholders in building a drug-free Punjab,” he said.
Punjab Police said the integrated approach of enforcement, awareness and community participation aims to create a safer and drug-free state with citizens playing an active role in combating drug abuse.
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