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— CPs/SSPs DIRECTED TO ENSURE VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE, PERSONALLY VISIT IMPORTANT CRIME SCENES
— ROUND-THE-CLOCK NAKAS TO BE STRENGTHENED, SEALING PLANS TO BE IMPLEMENTED FOR SWIFT POLICE RESPONSE: DGP PUNJAB GAURAV YADAV
— OVER 48K DRUG SMUGGLERS HELD WITH 2149-KG HEROIN AND ₹15.9CR DRUG MONEY SINCE LAUNCH OF ‘YUDH NASHIAN VIRUDH’ CAMPAIGN
CHANDIGARH, February 8:
Further intensifying the ongoing “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign to make Punjab a gangster-free state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on Sunday announced the launch of 72-hours long “Operation Prahaar-2” with focus on nabbing the wanted criminals.
The DGP, accompanied by Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, ADGP Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Nilabh Kishore and Intelligence Chief Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill, was addressing a press conference following the high-level meeting with all the CPs/SSPs and range IGPs/DIGs to review the progress of Yudh Nashian Virudh and Gangstran Te Vaar campaigns.
The development came days after the huge success of “Operation Prahaar”, which resulted in the arrest of 3256 individuals in 72-hours and 69 weapons were recovered from their possession.
The DGP said that starting from Monday, the Operation Prahaar-2 will be conducted till Wednesday, and senior officers from Punjab Police Headquarters have been deputed for effective supervision of the operation.
Sharing outcomes of 20 days of Gangstran Te Vaar campaign, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that Police teams have arrested 5,290 individuals including gangsters and criminals associated with them and recovered 128 weapons from their possession after conducting 17,603 raids across the state. Apart from this, preventive action has been initiated against 2,973 persons, whereas, 5,413 persons were verified and released after questioning, he said, while adding that 344 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested.
Defying all the fake narratives, he clarified that this is lawful operation and police will only arrest the person who is wanted in crime. For effective supervision across police districts, Special DGP, ADGP, IGP, and DIG-rank officers have been allocated police districts to oversee work, with the directive that accountability will be fixed for any lapses found, he added.
To enhance visible police presence and strengthen the crime response mechanism across the state, the DGP said that Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on operational preparedness have also been issued to all the CPs/SSPs and range IGPs/DIGs.
He said that CPs/SSPs have been directed to personally visit all important scenes of crime to supervise investigations and ensure the tracing of heinous offences. As part of the confidence-building measures, all the district chiefs have been directed to personally conduct field visits in high footfall and hotspot areas, he added.
DGP Gaurav Yadav informed that the state’s police force is being significantly augmented by auditing and mobilizing force deployment from non-core duties to strengthen round-the-clock High-Tech Nakas and city sealing points. Following reports that many vehicles are moving without numbers, which are being used in crimes, the operational directions have also been issued to intensify the checking of vehicles, with a specific focus on challaning and impounding vehicles, especially two-wheelers, moving without number plates.
Stressing on the need to make maximum use of wireless sets and walkie-talkies, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that it shall be the responsibility of the concerned CP/SSP/Range IGP/DIGs to put in place proper police response after immediately the incident is reported. “To ensure rapid response after any crime incident is reported, a comprehensive sealing plan must be immediately implemented to intercept perpetrators through intensive checking at escape routes and exit points,” he said.
Highlighting the state’s relentless fight against drugs under the “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign launched on March 1, 2025, DGP Gaurav Yadav informed that Punjab Police registered 33,779 FIRs and made 48,167 arrests resulting in recovery of 2,149 kg of heroin, 29 kg ICE, 649 kg opium, 28,527 kg poppy husk, 48.31 lakh intoxicant pills/capsules and Rs 15.91 Crores drug money from their possession.
Meanwhile, People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.
