Chandigarh, October 31: Punjab’s ongoing campaign against organized crime and narcotics has entered a decisive phase, with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) emerging as the key force behind a series of targeted crackdowns across the state.
The state government has also moved against drug cartels that have long plagued Punjab’s youth. Over the past two years, police have carried out extensive raids, arresting thousands of suspected traffickers and demolishing properties allegedly built through illegal proceeds. Officials describe the move as part of a larger effort to dismantle the infrastructure of the narcotics trade.
Crime data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) indicates a dip in murder, kidnapping, and theft cases between 2021 and 2022, reflecting a broader shift in the state’s law and order graph. Senior officers attribute the improvement to sustained enforcement, better intelligence-sharing, and greater accountability at the district level.
Constituted soon after the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party government, the AGTF was tasked with dismantling gang networks that had spread across Punjab and beyond. Police officials say the unit has neutralized several key modules and recovered large consignments of arms, including RDX and grenades, in coordinated operations.
To strengthen internal vigilance, the government has introduced an Anti-Corruption Action Line, encouraging citizens to report graft directly. Officials say the mechanism has helped increase transparency and public confidence in the administration.
Punjab’s push to modernize its police force — with new recruitments, digital tracking systems, and specialized road safety units — marks a parallel effort to make law enforcement more responsive. Authorities maintain that these measures aim not only to control crime but also to rebuild trust between citizens and the state’s security apparatus.
