To ensure peaceful celebrations for Independence Day 2025, as mandated by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Punjab Police have heightened security across the state and launched a fortnight-long special operation to monitor criminal and anti-social elements.
Following the directives of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, all Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) have been instructed to enhance security measures, increase patrols, and intensify night domination operations in their respective districts.
Special DGP (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla elaborated that, over the next two weeks, CPs and SSPs will conduct regular operations, including anti-terrorist and anti-gangster activities, jail inspections, deployment of checkpoints at strategic locations, and combing operations.
They have also been directed to closely monitor suspicious activities and individuals and to take prompt action in case of any security breaches.
Additionally, Special DGP Shukla has ordered CPs and SSPs to strengthen police presence at public venues and enhance surveillance and patrolling in critical areas within their jurisdictions. They have been instructed to increase the number of police checkpoints and ensure thorough vehicle checks at every checkpoint to curb terrorist and criminal activities.
Meanwhile, Punjab Police continued its cordon and search operation (CASO) against drugs on Day 154, conducting raids at 481 locations on Saturday, leading to the arrest of 107 drug smugglers and the registration of 80 First Information Reports (FIRs) across the state. This brings the total number of drug smugglers arrested to 24,325 within 154 days.
Special DGP Shukla reported that the raids resulted in the recovery of 13.9 kg of heroin, 500 grams of opium, and Rs 34,820 in drug money from the arrested smugglers. Over 180 police teams, comprising more than 1,300 personnel under the supervision of 87 gazetted officers, conducted raids across the state and checked 511 suspicious persons during the day-long operation.
Shukla added that, in line with the state government’s three-pronged strategy of Enforcement, De-addiction, and Prevention (EDP) to eradicate drugs, the Punjab Police, as part of its de-addiction efforts, convinced 68 individuals to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment on Saturday.