New Delhi: Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) MF Farooqui has said that comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place ahead of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to the state, with approximately 1,200 to 1,300 police personnel deployed to ensure security.
Farooqui, a 1995-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the Punjab cadre, shared details of the arrangements while addressing the media in Gurdaspur. He said adequate personnel had been deployed and all necessary security measures were in place for the Home Minister’s visit.
“We have made very comprehensive arrangements. Full security measures are in place here. An adequate number of personnel have been deployed, approximately 1,200–1,300 personnel have been deployed,” Farooqui said.
Amit Shah to Meet Families of Victims of Punjab’s Drug Trade
Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah is scheduled to meet the families of people who recently lost their lives after speaking out against drug traffickers in Punjab’s Mansa, Sangrur and Gurdaspur districts on October 20.
During his visit, Shah will also meet other bereaved families affected by the illegal drug trade. The meetings come amid continuing concerns over drug trafficking and its impact on communities across the state.
Expressing his condolences, Shah said the pain experienced by families who had lost their loved ones was beyond words. He also asserted that attempts to silence people opposing the drug trade would not succeed and said the people of Punjab would respond strongly to those responsible.
Centre Reaffirms Commitment to Action Against Drug Traffickers
Shah reiterated that the Government of India is committed to identifying and prosecuting those involved in drug trafficking. He reaffirmed the government’s objective of making Punjab, along with the rest of the country, free from the menace of drugs.
The Home Minister’s meetings with affected families are expected to bring attention to the challenges faced by people opposing the illegal drug trade and the need for action against those responsible.
BJP Criticises AAP Government Over Punjab’s Drug Crisis
Shah’s visit comes amid an ongoing political debate over drug trafficking in Punjab. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has criticised the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led state government over its handling of the issue and has called for stronger action against those involved in the illegal drug trade.
In a post on X, Shah accused the AAP government of worsening Punjab’s drug crisis and alleged that its policies had contributed to the loss of many young lives.
He further claimed that drug traffickers involved in the sale of ‘chitta’, a term commonly used for heroin in Punjab, were operating under the protection of the AAP government.
These allegations have intensified the political debate over accountability, law enforcement and the measures required to tackle drug trafficking in the state.
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