Irony in Punjab When the Rescue Committee Member Needs a Rescue from the Law:

In a case that has left the local administration and the ruling party red-faced, a member of the Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) Village Rescue Committee (VRC) was arrested in Ferozepur, Punjab, following a massive seizure of illicit liquor.

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Punjab Police intercepted a vehicle during a routine checkpoint near the border district, uncovering a haul that contradicts the very mission of the VRC to "rescue" villages from the clutches of drugs and alcohol.

The Haul: 800 Bottles of Country Liquor

The arrest took place after police received a specific tip-off about a large consignment being moved under the guise of "official" volunteer work.

The Recovery: Officers found 800 bottles of country-made liquor (Desi Daru) packed into several crates in a private vehicle.

The Accused: The individual, identified as a key member of a local Village Rescue Committee, was reportedly using his status as a "social reformer" to bypass police scrutiny at various checkpoints.

What is the Village Rescue Committee?

The VRCs were established as a grassroots initiative by the Punjab government to empower local youth and villagers to act as watchdogs against drug smuggling and liquor mafias. For a member of this very group to be caught with a commercial quantity of illicit alcohol is being viewed as a massive blow to the credibility of the anti-drug campaign.

Political Fallout and Police Action

The Charges: The accused has been booked under the Excise Act and is currently in police custody for further interrogation.

The Investigation: Police are now investigating whether this was a one-time offense or if the VRC network was being systematically misused to transport illicit goods across the district.

The Opposition's Stance: Opposing parties in Punjab have quickly seized the moment, accusing the AAP government of "appointing wolves to guard the sheep" and demanding a complete audit of all VRC members in the border belt.

A Community Betrayed

For the people of Ferozepur, who have been battling the scourge of substance abuse for decades, this arrest is a painful betrayal. The VRCs were seen as a glimmer of hope—a way for common citizens to take back their villages. Now, the administration faces the uphill task of rebuilding trust while ensuring that the "Rescue Committees" themselves don't become part of the problem.