Massive Crackdown on Gangsters in Punjab
Punjab Police have arrested 38,738 individuals, including gangsters and their associates, during 93,927 raids conducted across the state over the past five months. The operation is part of the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar' campaign launched on January 20, according to Special DGP (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar Sinha, who made the announcement on Saturday.
District police teams, working in coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), targeted identified locations linked to gangsters' associates. The raids led to the recovery of 716 firearms, 1,976 live cartridges, 209 magazines, 187 sharp-edged weapons, and seven hand grenades from those arrested.
Preventive Actions and Proclaimed Offenders
Sinha stated that preventive action had been initiated against 15,825 people, while 18,042 others were verified and subsequently released after questioning. Additionally, police have arrested 1,244 proclaimed offenders since the campaign began. On the 151st day of the campaign alone, 348 people were arrested after 575 raids, preventive action was taken against 125 persons, and five proclaimed offenders were apprehended.
Parallel Anti-Drug Drive Yields Results
Meanwhile, under the anti-drug drive ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh', which completed 476 days on Saturday, police arrested 103 alleged drug smugglers. Seizures included 848 grams of heroin, 12 kilograms of poppy husk, 1,308 intoxicant tablets and capsules, and Rs 6,756 in suspected drug money. With these arrests, the total number of alleged drug smugglers apprehended under the campaign has risen to 69,201. Police also persuaded 13 individuals to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment on Saturday.
