‘Gangstran Te Vaar’: Punjab Police flood Pakistan border with 2,291 CCTV cameras to hunt down crime networks

Punjab Police have expanded their security setup along the international border with Pakistan by installing 2,291 CCTV cameras across 585 locations. This move is part of a wider strategy to create what officials describe as a “second line of defence” behind the Border Security Force (BSF) that aims to tighten control over illegal cross-border activities and organised crime networks.

The initiative is not just about increasing the number of cameras but about building a layered security system that can quickly detect and stop illegal movement inside Indian territory, especially in vulnerable border villages and transit routes.

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Dense CCTV network across 585 border locations

In a major technological upgrade, Punjab Police have placed 2,291 CCTV cameras at 585 strategic points along the Pakistan border. These cameras form dense surveillance grid that covers sensitive villages, roads, movement corridors.

Along with this expansion, 41 police stations in border districts have also been brought under CCTV coverage. All these systems are linked into a broader monitoring network that helps police track real-time activity and respond faster to suspicious movements.

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Officials say this integration ensures that even if any illegal goods or activities cross the border, they can track those immediately and stop.

‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ strategy targets organised crime

The surveillance expansion is part of a campaign called “Gangstran Te Vaar”. Under this, Punjab Police are tightening their grip on organised crime groups believed to have cross-border connections.

The main goal of the strategy is to cut off supply chains used by criminal gangs, especially those involved in drugs, weapons, and smuggling activities. Authorities believe that stronger surveillance and faster response systems will weaken the entire network that supports these operations.

Police have also changed their ground-level approach. Checkpoints known locally as nakas are now more flexible and unpredictable. Instead of routine vehicle checks, police are using real-time intelligence to carry out targeted inspections.

Anti-drone measures have also stepped up in border districts that have repeatedly seen illegal drops of arms and narcotics. These drones are often in use for transport of illegal goods across the border, making them a major concern for security agencies.

Police say ‘second line of defence’ breaks crime chain

Senior police officials say this enhanced surveillance system is acting as a strong backup layer to the BSF, which handles direct border security. According to Senior Superintendent of Police, Amritsar Rural, Suhail Qasim Mir, the idea is to intercept threats after they cross the border but before they can spread.

He explained that the nakas are now intelligence-driven and positioned based on verified inputs rather than routine patterns.

He also added that village-level defence committees and local informant networks are in the security system.

DGP says focus is on breaking entire crime network

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the state’s approach has shifted from reacting to crimes to breaking the entire ecosystem behind them. According to him, the aim is not only to catch criminals but to stop the system that allows them to operate.

He said the second line of defence ensures early detection of illegal activity, allowing police to neutralise threats quickly before they grow larger.

Under this strategy, every intercepted drone drop, every flagged vehicle, and every tracked movement through CCTV systems contributes to weakening organised crime networks that often operate from across the border or even from foreign locations.