CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday announced 10,000 new recruitments in the Punjab Police to root out drugs and also declared that the state is fighting the final and decisive ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’.
During a first-of-its-kind ‘SHO Milni’ and honouring police officers for outstanding work during the campaign, Mann said police have full freedom to take every legitimate action against drugs and directed them to go to villages and towns, take people along and crack down on the menace. He said ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ has now become a mass awareness movement across Punjab, while the police force will soon get 450 ASIs and 3,400 police personnel.
“This is a historic initiative through which I, along with the Director General of Police, am directly engaging with SHOs to understand your working conditions, listen to your concerns and formulate measures for your welfare,” he said, addressing the police personnel. 
He said our government understands the pressures and challenges faced by our police personnel and is adopting a humane approach towards your genuine concerns. But alongside support, the people of Punjab expect professionalism, honesty and accountability from every police officer.
Mann said public cooperation is indispensable in the fight against drugs, adding, “The people are providing information and cooperating with the police. But once information reaches you, taking prompt and effective action is your responsibility.”
He exhorted the SHOs that complaint and every piece of actionable information must be dealt with seriously, professionally and without fear or favour. There should be no compromise when it comes to protecting the people of Punjab from drugs and crime.
He said the state government is strengthening the operational capacity of the Punjab Police, stating, “We are providing CCTVs, anti-drone systems, modern vehicles and other advanced infrastructure and technology to strengthen the police force. Modern policing is essential because the networks involved in drug trafficking and organised crime are becoming increasingly sophisticated.”
 Mann pointed out that Punjab is moving towards technology-driven policing, including the use of AI-enabled surveillance systems as technology is now an important component of our strategy to make policing more effective. He said the Sadak Surakhya Force is a major example of specialised and technology-enabled policing. It was created to strengthen road safety and emergency response and has helped save several precious lives since its launch in February 2024.
“Punjab Police is not only fighting crime but is also playing an important role in preventing drug abuse among youngsters. At the same time, our police force is also serving as a frontline defence for national security,” he added. 
Urging the officers to focus on prevention, he said, “You should visit educational institutions and conduct awareness programmes so that our youth can be protected from the devastating consequences of drugs. The fight against drugs does not end with arresting a drug peddler. We also have to save the person who has fallen into addiction.”
Emphasising the welfare of police personnel, Mann said the welfare of our police personnel remains a priority for the state government. We have taken several steps, including facilitating leave for police personnel, expediting the disposal of pending pension-related cases and speeding up procedures in crime and drug-related matters.
On strengthening the police force, he said, “We are directly recruiting 450 ASIs. Around 3,400 recruits are presently undergoing training, while 10,000 additional police posts are proposed to be advertised in the coming financial year. Recruitment is being carried out through a transparent and fully merit-based process. We are expanding and modernising the police force so that our personnel have the strength and resources required to discharge their responsibilities effectively.”
 Mann said Punjab shares a 553-kilometre-long international border with Pakistan and six districts, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Gurdaspur, Pathankot, Ferozepur and Fazilka, share the border with the neighbouring country which is making sinister attempts to smuggle drugs across the border through drones, with the intention of harming Punjab. "We have to remain vigilant and prevent these attempts from succeeding,” he added.
On the occasion, Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, DGP Gaurav Yadav and other senior officers were also present.