Chandigarh, March 10: The Punjab Police have revealed the technological framework currently being utilized to track and apprehend high-profile gangsters operating both within India and abroad. At the center of this strategy is a dedicated 24-hour war room designed to serve as a high-tech nerve center, where specialists use data analytics and digital surveillance to monitor criminal activities in real-time.
A key component of this digital arsenal is the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS). The police spokesperson stated that the department has compiled a database of more than 72,000 voice samples from known criminals and suspects. This mobile application allows investigators to rapidly identify individuals behind extortion and threat calls, which are frequently routed through encrypted messaging apps or international internet-based numbers to mask the caller’s identity.
“Every call, every message leaves a digital trail,” a senior police officer asserted, adding that the objective is to connect these data points quickly enough to prevent crimes before they occur. This intelligence-led approach recently led to the successful interception of two operatives linked to a foreign-based handler. Acting on digital leads, police teams arrested the suspects and recovered a pistol and ammunition, thwarting a planned targeted killing.
The department has also empowered the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) with statewide jurisdiction and specialized facilities to bypass procedural delays. Analysts within these units examine call data records, financial transactions, and travel patterns to map out connections between gang members, financiers, and local facilitators. Officials maintained that while technology is a force multiplier, traditional informant networks and a confidential helpline continue to play a vital role in providing initial leads.
