India, Oct. 19 -- Punjab's drug crisis has evolved beyond a law-and-order challenge into a critical test of governance, the integrity of public institutions, and the state's resolve to safeguard its younger generation. Behind every drug seizure and arrest lies a sobering question: how many young lives have been saved, how many remain at risk, and how many families continue to live in constant fear of losing their loved ones to the menace of drugs?

The killing of an anti-drug activist in Mansa has brought this question under a spotlight, exposing the risks faced by people who challenge the illegal sale of narcotics, and has renewed public concern about the reach of the drug trade.

The citizens should not have to risk their lives to tackl...