‘Gangsteran Te Vaar’ Strengthens Ground-Level Security; Checkpoints Emerge as Key Tool in Cracking Down on Crime & Narcotics Networks
Criminals & Anti-Social Elements Will Find No Safe Haven in Punjab as Strategic Checkpoints Tighten Surveillance Across State: DGP Gaurav Yadav
CHANDIGARH, June 22:
Ensuring a safe environment across districts, Punjab Police has strengthened preventive policing by setting up strategic checkpoints at important junctions across the state. With a focus on visible policing while ensuring minimal inconvenience to commuters and residents, the initiative has helped curb criminal activities and resulted in the arrest of several criminals besides leading to significant recoveries of narcotics and illegal weapons.
The checkpoints, set up under Operation ‘Gangsteran Te Vaar’, have enhanced police visibility and enabled swift response to emergencies. They have also emerged as an effective tool in intercepting criminals, drug smugglers, and anti-social elements moving across districts.
Recent operations at checkpoints have yielded significant results. The Commissionerate Police Amritsar intercepted two unidentified youths riding a motorcycle and seized two 9mm sub-machine guns along with an empty magazine marked with “Ghaffar Security”.
The Amritsar Police also arrested an accused at a checkpoint and recovered 2.1 kg of heroin along with seven sophisticated pistols, including a 9mm Gladiator made in Turkey, a 9mm Zigana X-SHOT, a .30 bore Beretta made in Italy, a .30 bore Zigana made in China, a .30 bore pistol made in Austria, and two .30 bore pistols made in China.
In another operation, Gurdaspur Police intercepted a scooter at a checkpoint in Dinanagar and arrested a husband-and-wife duo with 253 grams of heroin. At a checkpoint near Paniyar Sugar Mill in Dinanagar, an accused was arrested with 3 kg of heroin packed in six packets along with Rs 2.25 lakh in drug money.
The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police, in a joint operation with Counter Intelligence Punjab, arrested two operatives and recovered illegal weapons from their possession at a checkpoint within the jurisdiction of Police Station Ladowal. Police teams recovered three pistols—two .30 bore and one .315 bore—along with 11 live cartridges. The motorcycle being used by the accused, a Bajaj CT 100 without a registration number, has also been impounded.
On this, Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav said, “By setting up strategic checkpoints, Punjab Police is not only ensuring a safe environment for the people but also tightening surveillance and restricting the movement of criminals and anti-social elements across the state. The recoveries made at various checkpoints demonstrate the effectiveness of our strategy. The message is clear: criminals and anti-social elements will find no safe haven in Punjab. Under Operation ‘Gangsteran Te Vaar’, each district is setting up temporary checkpoints at identified locations to strengthen policing and maintain a strong security presence.”
The checkpoint strategy forms an integral part of Punjab Police’s broader security architecture, working in close coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC) to act on real-time intelligence and disrupt criminal networks.
Under the ongoing Operation ‘Gangsteran Te Vaar’, Punjab Police has intensified intelligence-led operations, targeted organised crime networks, and strengthened preventive policing measures across districts, with checkpoints emerging as an important tool to deter criminal activity and ensure public safety.
