Chandigarh: The Punjab government on Sunday launched a 72-hour special drive, Operation Prahaar-2, aimed at nabbing wanted criminals as part of the ongoing “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign to make the state gangster-free. The operation has been launched on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said.
Addressing a press conference after a high-level review meeting with all Commissioners of Police (CPs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) and range IGPs/DIGs, DGP Yadav said the operation would be conducted from Monday to Wednesday. Senior officers from Punjab Police Headquarters have been deputed to personally supervise the drive across police districts.
The meeting was attended by Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla, ADGP Anti-Narcotics Task Force Nilabh Kishore and Intelligence Chief Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill. The review focused on the progress of the Gangstran Te Vaar and Yudh Nashian Virudh campaigns.
The announcement follows the success of the earlier Operation Prahaar, during which Punjab Police arrested 3,256 individuals and recovered 69 weapons in a 72-hour period.
Sharing the outcomes of the past 20 days under the Gangstran Te Vaar campaign, the DGP said police teams arrested 5,290 individuals, including gangsters and their associates, after conducting 17,603 raids across the state. A total of 128 weapons were recovered, while preventive action was taken against 2,973 persons. Additionally, 5,413 individuals were verified and released after questioning, and 344 proclaimed offenders were arrested.
Rejecting what he termed “fake narratives”, DGP Yadav said the operation was strictly lawful and that only those wanted in criminal cases were being arrested. For tighter supervision, officers of the rank of Special DGP, ADGP, IGP and DIG have been assigned specific police districts, with accountability to be fixed for any lapses.
To strengthen the crime response mechanism and ensure visible policing, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on operational preparedness have been issued to all CPs, SSPs and range officers. District police chiefs have been directed to personally visit important crime scenes to supervise investigations and ensure tracing of heinous offences. They have also been asked to conduct field visits in high-footfall and hotspot areas as part of confidence-building measures.
The DGP said police deployment is being augmented by reallocating personnel from non-core duties to strengthen round-the-clock high-tech nakas and city sealing points. In view of reports of vehicles without registration numbers being used in crimes, directions have been issued to intensify vehicle checking, including challaning and impounding, particularly of two-wheelers without number plates.
Emphasising quick response to crime, DGP Yadav said greater use of wireless sets and walkie-talkies has been directed. He added that it would be the responsibility of the concerned CPs, SSPs and range officers to ensure immediate police response once an incident is reported, including implementation of comprehensive sealing plans to intercept perpetrators along escape routes and exit points.
Highlighting the state’s ongoing fight against drugs under the Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign launched on March 1, 2025, the DGP said Punjab Police have so far registered 33,779 FIRs and made 48,167 arrests. The seizures include 2,149 kg heroin, 29 kg ICE, 649 kg opium, 28,527 kg poppy husk, 48.31 lakh intoxicant pills and capsules, and ₹15.91 crore in drug money.
The police have also appealed to the public to share information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, as well as tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti-Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946, assuring anonymity.
