DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The ongoing anti-drugs drive in Punjab has rattled Pakistan's spy agency ISI, which is devising new strategies to foment disturbance in the border state, DGP Gaurav Yadav said on Monday. He also asserted that exemplary action would be taken against those trying to disturb peace in the state. Intelligence suggests that the anti-drugs drive has had a massive impact, forcing couriers to retreat, with many refusing to pick up consignments dropped by Pakistan-based smugglers. This has led to a sharp decline in heroin supply from across the border, according to the police chief.

It also indicates that the campaign's success has rattled Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is now devising strategies to destabilise the border state to disrupt the drive, he added.

"The Punjab Police will not allow Pakistan's ISI to destabilise the border state, and ensure exemplary punishment to anyone trying to disturb peace and harmony," said Director General of Police (DGP) Yadav.

He noted that the key accused involved in the attack at Thakur Dwara Mandir in Amritsar was neutralised in retaliatory firing by police teams.

"The impact of Yudh Nashian Virudh is undeniable. Our intelligence confirms that couriers are now hesitant to collect heroin packets dropped by Pakistani smugglers, signalling a major disruption in the supply chain," Yadav said. Under the campaign, the Punjab Police has been targeting actual street peddlers while victims are not being harassed and are being admitted to de-addiction centres, he added.

Asked about a grenade-like object being hurled towards the residence of a YouTuber in Jalandhar, the police chief said they had recovered many clues and would shortly share details.

Questioned on the many incidents of gunfire exchange between criminals and the police, Yadav said they were working within the law. "When we are fired upon, we reply in self-defence. Bullet for bullet is not an aggressive policy but a self-defence policy."

He also said their endeavour was that those involved in the 2023 Ajnala police station attack incident faced the law in Punjab.

(editor@dailyworld.in)