On Wednesday, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari took a significant step in the fight against drug abuse by operating a bulldozer to demolish nearly 200,000 bottles of prohibited cough syrup in Balurghat, located in the Dakshin Dinajpur district. This event was part of a broader anti-drug initiative.

During the event, Adhikari was joined by Union Minister of State and Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar, as well as State Health Minister Shardwat Mukhopadhyay, who witnessed the destruction of the bottles, which were arranged outside the office of the Superintendent of Police for Dakshin Dinajpur.

In his first appearance in Balurghat following his victory in the 2026 state Assembly elections, the Chief Minister emphasized that this act was intended to steer the nation’s youth away from substance abuse. “The primary message I want to convey is the necessity to rescue our youth from the grips of drug addiction,” he stated.

Adhikari referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of achieving a “drug-free India” by 2029, labeling this initiative as “highly pertinent and timely.” He urged young people to reject drugs, reiterating, “The core message of my initiative is to liberate the youth from addiction.”

Previous instances of using road rollers to destroy illegal liquor bottles have been observed in states like Gujarat and Bihar. Additionally, in July, Assam’s Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma similarly obliterated drugs using road rollers in his region.

The Chief Minister noted that collaboration between the Border Security Force (BSF) and state police had strengthened along the Bangladesh border, indicating that the confiscated Phensedyl cough syrup bottles were allegedly intended for smuggling into the neighboring nation. “These substances were seized in a collaborative effort by the BSF and the police over the last four months. We have chosen to destroy them symbolically. Our goal is also to eradicate drugs from West Bengal—that is our message,” he articulated.

Adhikari issued a stern warning to those engaged in the illegal cough syrup trade, stating, “Individuals involved in these operations will face significant prison sentences.”

Following the anti-drug campaign, the Chief Minister participated in several administrative events in Balurghat and was scheduled to visit the local airport. He also announced plans for the establishment of a medical college in Balurghat.