Punjab Police intensified its statewide crackdown on gangsters and their associates on Sunday, conducting 597 raids on the 201st day of the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign and arresting 299 people, officials said.
The operation, launched by Punjab Police Director General Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026, is aimed at making the state free from gangster-related activities. Police teams from all districts have been carrying out coordinated operations with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF).
According to officials, the latest raids led to the recovery of seven weapons. With the fresh arrests, the total number of people held under the campaign has risen to 58,511.
Police also initiated preventive action against 246 individuals and arrested five proclaimed offenders during Sunday’s operation.
Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) Praveen Sinha said a two-day ‘Operation Prahaar-4.0’ conducted in Gurdaspur resulted in 371 arrests. The operation also led to the recovery of two pistols, four live cartridges, 448 grams of heroin, 110 intoxicant pills and Rs 8,920 in suspected drug money.
The Punjab Police has appealed to citizens to share information about wanted criminals, gangsters and other criminal activities anonymously through the Anti-Gangster Helpline at 93946-93946.
Meanwhile, the police continued its parallel anti-drug campaign, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’, which entered its 526th day. A total of 76 suspected drug smugglers were arrested during the day’s operation, with 1.3 kg of heroin, 175 intoxicant pills and Rs 1,450 in drug money recovered.
The cumulative number of arrests under ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ has now reached 75,578. As part of its de-addiction and rehabilitation efforts, Punjab Police also persuaded six individuals to undergo treatment on Sunday.
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