By Ira Deshpande
Following the recovery of drugs during a large-scale cordon and search operation (CASO) conducted throughout the city, the Ludhiana police have booked eight individuals and filed seven separate cases. This was a component of a continuous drug war. According to officials, the goal was to break up local supply chains and make the area feel safer again.
Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma said the operation had been planned for several days, and teams were deployed simultaneously in different police station areas. The areas include Dugri, Sahnewal, Dehlon, Sadar, Shimlapuri, Daba, and Division Number 6. Officers carried out surprise checks, roadblocks, and house-to-house verification in suspected drug hotspots.
According to the police, the operation combined both visible policing and discreet intelligence work. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Harpal Singh explained that officers in plain normal clothes were stationed in sensitive locations and early-morning check posts were set up to interrupt peddlers. “This method helped us act before the suspects could destroy or hide evidence,” he added.
This raid led to multiple arrests under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Officials said the substances recovered have been sent for forensic tests. While the police has not revealed the total quantity of the drugs seized, they have confirmed that further investigation is underway to identify the larger network involved.
In Punjab, a state that has long struggled with addiction-related problems, the city police are now under pressure to address the growing concern over drug abuse. Locals say they feel somewhat reassured by the apparent rise in police activity. “We’ve seen young people fall into this trap for years. If the police keep up this pace, it might finally make a difference,” said a local shopkeeper in the Shimlapuri area.
Commissioner Sharma said more such coordinated drives are planned in the coming weeks. “This is not a one-time effort,” he added. “Our goal is to reach every corner of the city where drug activity exists. The message is clear that Ludhiana will not tolerate narcotics.”