Chandigarh, Feb 12: Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered a significant escalation in the state’s offensive against narcotics and organized crime, warning that the performance of every police official is now under direct observation. During a high-level review meeting with top police brass on Thursday, the Chief Minister directed the leadership to ensure the absolute rule of law and the total uprooting of gangster networks.
The state government has identified its flagship campaigns, ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ and ‘Gangsteraan Te Vaar’, as the most critical priorities for the administration. Mann mentioned that while recent efforts have yielded encouraging results, the police force must now deliver a final blow to these challenges.
“The work of every officer and official is under scrutiny and they will be duly rewarded for their good work and will be held accountable for any sort of lapse,” Mann said while addressing Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police.
To prevent the misuse of weapons, the Chief Minister instructed civil and police authorities to launch a comprehensive review of arms licenses throughout the state. He noted that any license linked to criminal activity must be revoked immediately by district officials, describing any laxity in this process as undesirable.
The Chief Minister also stated that the Punjab Government is providing necessary resources to modernize the force. He mentioned that there is no shortage of funds to provide the latest technology, vehicles, and infrastructure to help the police meet modern challenges.
“Punjab Police has a glorious legacy of combating such challenges and the need of the hour is to uphold this heritage by eliminating the drug menace and gangsters from the state,” the Chief Minister said.
Beyond enforcement, the administration is focusing on preventive measures by engaging the Education Department to monitor school dropout rates in sensitive areas. Mann noted that providing employment and career counseling is essential to keeping the youth away from social evils and criminal influences.
