Chandigarh, April 15: As part of the ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ initiative, the Punjab Police executed 506 coordinated raids across the state on Wednesday, resulting in the arrest of 254 individuals. The crackdown, which targeted mapped locations linked to gangster associates, is part of a broader strategy directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann to eliminate organized crime in the state.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav stated that the operation involved district police teams working in tandem with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF). During the 85th day of the campaign, authorities seized four weapons and apprehended four proclaimed offenders. Official records indicate that total arrests under this specific drive have now reached 21,408 since its commencement in January.
“Police teams also took preventive action against 92 individuals, while 121 were released after thorough verification,” a police spokesperson affirmed. To encourage public participation, the department maintained that citizens can provide anonymous tips regarding criminal activities via the dedicated helpline number, 93946-93946.
In a parallel operation titled ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ which marked its 410th day, the police arrested 76 drug smugglers. Officials confirmed the recovery of 3.3kg of heroin, 1.1kg of ganja, and over ₹2 lakh in drug money. Furthermore, as part of the state’s rehabilitation efforts, the police successfully convinced 14 individuals to seek de-addiction treatment on Wednesday, contributing to the total of 58,945 drug-related arrests made over the last 14 months.
