Chandigarh, Jan 20: Significant developments were reported on the first day of the ‘Gangsters te Vaar’ campaign, including an encounter in Amritsar where a criminal was killed after firing upon police teams. Baltej Pannu noted that the operation lasted several hours as officers attempted to make an arrest. In a separate incident in Mandi Gobindgarh, another individual with multiple pending criminal cases was injured during a confrontation with the police and is currently receiving medical treatment under custody.
“These are only two examples of the ongoing action. The crackdown will continue relentlessly until gangsterism is completely eliminated from Punjab,” Pannu directly said. He noted that the police force, recognized for its capability, is committed to cleaning the state of the criminal elements that flourished under previous regimes. He mentioned that the government is also rewarding police personnel who demonstrate exceptional bravery and achieve results during this specialized campaign.
To ensure public participation in the movement against organized crime, the government has launched a dedicated helpline at 93946-93946. Pannu noted that the identity of informers will remain strictly confidential and those providing credible information leading to successful operations will be rewarded. He noted that the administration views this as a collective effort to remove the “poisonous weeds” of crime and drugs from the state’s social fabric.
“Whether it is the war against drugs or ‘Gangsters te Vaar’, these are battles to clean Punjab of the thorns left behind by past regimes,” Pannu said. He noted that the government remains firm in its resolve that anyone who takes the law into their own hands or harasses the public will not be permitted to operate freely.
