To ensure the safety and security of the state’s people, the Punjab Police have moved beyond their jurisdictional boundaries to strengthen operational coordination with neighbouring states and police forces across the country. From tracking gangster networks operating in other states to building stronger operational linkages, the state police have significantly weakened organised crime networks.
Through intelligence-sharing mechanisms, coordinated operations, and joint action plans, the Punjab Police ensure that criminals cannot exploit geographical boundaries to evade the law.
“We are very clear in our motto: criminals cannot escape after committing crimes in Punjab. The Punjab Police will track them down wherever they hide and ensure justice for the victims. The ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign has entered its decisive 148th day, and we are leaving no stone unturned in taking action against wrongdoers,” said Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav.
“The identification and arrest of 37,757 troublemakers since the campaign’s launch reflects the state police’s commitment to maintaining law and order. I also appreciate the support extended by our counterparts in other states through effective information-sharing and cooperation,” added DGP Gaurav Yadav.
Gangsters operating from one state while executing crimes in another, along with drug traffickers transporting consignments across multiple jurisdictions, have made interstate coordination a critical component of Punjab Police’s strategy. With the total number of drug smugglers arrested reaching 68,682, the Punjab Police has further strengthened one of its most effective tools—interstate cooperation.
The strategy has emerged as a key pillar of the ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign, under which the Punjab Police is targeting not only individual offenders but also the wider ecosystem that enables organised crime.
One of the most significant achievements was dismantling an ISI-backed espionage and terror network linked to Babbar Khalsa International. The joint operation conducted in Punjab and Delhi resulted in the arrest of 11 accused. During the investigation, authorities uncovered a sophisticated network allegedly using encrypted communication platforms and remotely operated cameras to collect and transmit sensitive information to handlers across the border.
The same coordinated approach has strengthened the Punjab Police’s offensive against gangster networks under the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign. Gangster syndicates, particularly those associated with Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, operate through networks spread across multiple states and often exploit interstate movement to evade arrest.
Earlier this year, several gangsters linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang were apprehended in Delhi through coordinated action involving multiple state police forces. Around the same time, the Punjab Police dismantled an extortion module associated with Goldy Brar, arresting ten operatives and disrupting a network that extended beyond Punjab’s boundaries.
Recently, Khanna Police busted an interstate gang involved in thefts, robberies and snatching incidents across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. The arrests were made in Uttar Pradesh following extensive coordination between police units.
In a joint interstate operation, the Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) and Punjab Police arrested a Punjab-based fugitive allegedly involved in a cross-border network that smuggled illegal weapons and narcotics into India through drones originating from Pakistan.
Recently, a joint operation by the Jammu and Kashmir Police and Punjab Police led to the recovery of an AK-47 rifle, a pistol, and approximately 500 grams of narcotic substance from a flat in Amritsar.
The operation was launched following specific intelligence received by Jammu Police regarding a wanted absconding accused. Acting on the information, teams from Jammu Police and Punjab Police conducted a raid at the location and seized the weapons and contraband.
“Criminals and anti-national elements often operate across state boundaries, therefore, policing must also transcend jurisdictions. Under the ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign, Punjab Police has adopted a strategy of seamless coordination with sister agencies across the country. Our message is clear – those who threaten peace and harmony in Punjab will find no safe haven, irrespective of where they attempt to hide,” added DGP Gaurav Yadav.
For the Punjab Police, this collaborative approach has emerged as a defining feature in its fight against organised crime and a crucial factor in ensuring public safety across the state.