Chandigarh, October 31: Punjab government’s intensified crackdown on drug traffickers and gangster networks through coordinated policing and administrative action have been gaining momentum with several properties linked to known drug traffickers being demolished, and thousands of suspects arrested in recent months
At the centre of the campaign is the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), created to dismantle organized crime syndicates operating in the state. The task force, armed with advanced surveillance tools and operational independence, has conducted a series of operations leading to major arrests and recovery of arms and explosives.
Data from the NCRB suggests that Punjab recorded a fall in serious offences like murder and kidnapping between 2021 and 2022. Police sources credit the improvement to a “zero-tolerance” approach and community cooperation.
To ensure administrative accountability, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has directed that district-level officers be personally responsible for maintaining law and order. The government has also launched a corruption helpline and public grievance centres to make redressal more accessible.
Parallel to these actions, Punjab Police have widened their drive against the narcotics trade. Officials said several properties linked to known drug traffickers were demolished, and thousands of suspects have been arrested in recent months. The move, they said, was intended to send a clear message that criminal networks will find no safe space in the state.
Officials believe that the sustained focus on enforcement, transparency and modernization will help secure a safer environment for Punjab’s youth, who have long borne the brunt of crime and drug abuse.
