‘Gangstran Te Vaar’: DGP rolls out Op Prahaar II, focus on wanted criminals

Chandigarh: Stepping up the crackdown under the anti-crime campaign ‘Gangstran Te Vaar', Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Sunday announced the launch of the second phase of the 72-hour ‘Operation Prahaar', starting Monday, with a focus on arresting wanted criminals.Addressing a press conference here, the DGP said that starting Monday, Operation Prahaar II will be conducted until Wednesday, and senior officers from Punjab Police headquarters had been deputed for effective supervision of the operation.In the first leg of the operation, which was launched to tighten the noose around Punjab-based associates of foreign-based gangsters, 3,256 individuals were arrested in 72 hours, and 69 weapons were recovered from their possession.Responding to a question, the DGP said correspondence for the extradition/deportation of 38 foreign-based gangsters had neem initiated with the central govt under the operation.He said 328 FIRs were registered in connection with songs glorifying guns. The DGP said police initiated the process to cancel 7,000 arms licences, of which 3,500 were cancelled.On the murder of an AAP functionary in Jalandhar, he said the first arrest was made within 24 hours in the case, and the main accused had already been identified, with police teams out to nab him.Sharing outcomes of 20 days of the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar' campaign, Yadav said police teams had arrested 5,290 individuals, including gangsters and criminals associated with them, and recovered 128 weapons from their possession after conducting 17,603 raids. "Apart from this, preventive action was initiated against 2,973 persons, whereas 5,413 persons were verified and released after questioning," he said, adding that 344 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested.Rejecting criticism of the drive, he clarified, "This is a 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 had been allocated police districts to oversee work, with the directive that accountability will be fixed for any lapses found, he added.He said that CPs/SSPs were 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 district chiefs were directed to personally conduct field visits in high-footfall and hotspot areas," he added.The DGP said, "The police force is being significantly augmented by auditing and mobilising 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, operational directions were also issued to intensify the checking of vehicles, with a specific focus on challaning and impounding vehicles, especially 2-wheelers, moving without number plates."Stressing the need to make maximum use of wireless sets and walkie-talkies, he said, "It shall be the responsibility of the concerned CP/SSP/Range IGP/DIGs to put in place proper police response immediately after the incident is reported."Speaking about ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh', which was launched on March 1, 2025, the DGP said, "Punjab Police registered 33,779 FIRs and made 48,167 arrests, resulting in the 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 of drug money from their possession."