Ahead of 2027 Assembly polls, Punjab’s AAP retain Tarn Taran seat
This bypoll was seen as a crucial test for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the AAP that had won five of the six bypolls held in the state since it came to power in March 2022.
As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign, launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, entered its 19th day, Punjab Police on Saturday conducted 584 raids at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.
According to official information, ‘Gangstran Te Vaar,’ a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state, was launched by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026.
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Police teams from all districts, in coordination with the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab, have been conducting special operations across the state.
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On Day 19 of the campaign, police teams arrested 180 individuals and recovered two weapons from their possession, taking the total number of arrests to 5,290 since the launch of the campaign.
In addition, preventive action was taken against 112 people, while 266 were verified and released after questioning. Police teams also arrested 11 proclaimed offenders (POs) during the operation.
People can anonymously share information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, as well as tips on crime and criminal activities, through the Anti-Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.
Meanwhile, police teams continued their drive against drugs under ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ for the 343rd day. On Saturday, 95 drug smugglers were arrested, and 12.3 kg of heroin, 160 kg of poppy husk, 321 intoxicant tablets/capsules, and Rs 2,640 in drug money were recovered from their possession.
With these arrests, the total number of drug smugglers apprehended has reached 48,096 in just 343 days. As part of the de-addiction initiative, Punjab Police also convinced 29 people to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment on Saturday.
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