Chandigarh: Punjab Police has arrested 62,641 individuals, including gangsters and their associates, after conducting 1.16 lakh raids across the state during the seven-month-old ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign aimed at making Punjab a gangster-free state.
Launched on January 20, 2026, by Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, the campaign has seen district police teams work in coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) to target identified locations linked to gangsters and their associates.
Special DGP Law and Order Praveen Sinha said police have recovered 1,057 weapons, 2,860 live cartridges, 335 magazines, 247 sharp-edged weapons and 15 hand grenades from arrested individuals.
Police have also initiated preventive action against 31,064 persons, while 18,536 individuals were verified and released after questioning. The campaign has additionally resulted in the arrest of 1,612 proclaimed offenders.
On Day 212 of the campaign, police conducted 663 raids, arrested 420 individuals, initiated preventive action against 225 persons and apprehended 10 proclaimed offenders.
Sinha said the campaign would continue with the same intensity. Citizens can anonymously provide information about wanted criminals, gangsters and criminal activities through the Anti-Gangster Helpline: 93946-93946.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police’s parallel anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, entered its 537th day. Police arrested 84 drug smugglers on Thursday and recovered 1.8 kg heroin, 1 kg opium, 120 kg poppy husk, 633 intoxicant tablets/capsules and ₹40,000 in drug money.
With Thursday’s arrests, the total number of drug smugglers arrested under the campaign has reached 76,136 in 537 days. As part of its de-addiction efforts, Punjab Police also persuaded 24 individuals to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment.
