Punjab Police registers 20 FIRs, rounds up 52 suspects in anti-drug drive
Ludhiana (Punjab), October 24: Punjab Police have registered 18 to 20 FIRs and rounded up 50 to 52 suspects during an anti-drug operation targeting eight identified hotspots in Ludhiana, an official said on Saturday.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Rupinder Singh said the operation was being carried out under the Punjab government’s ongoing ‘War Against Drugs’ campaign, with support from senior police officials.
Police teams revisited the eight hotspots and continued enforcement action. Officials are assessing the operation and the recoveries made so far, Singh said.
The drive comes amid mounting political criticism over the state’s drug problem and demands for justice following the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota.
Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal accused the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government of harassing Jhota’s family. In a post on X, Badal alleged that Jhota’s widow and father were being called to meetings with people allegedly linked to his murder.
Jhota was shot dead inside a chemist shop in Mansa district on October 13 while livestreaming on Facebook. The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered an FIR in the murder case, naming Kumar and unidentified persons as accused, according to ANI.