The Punjab Police executed an extensive series of raids across the state on Monday, leading to the arrest of more than 1,200 individuals as part of the first day of Operation Prahar-2. This initiative is a continuation of the ongoing efforts to combat organized crime and target wanted criminals.
The police launched approximately 2,760 raids in areas linked to individuals being sought by law enforcement, according to an official statement. This operation is part of the broader “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign, which was intensified recently by Punjab’s Director General of Police, Gaurav Yadav.
Operation Details and Police Involvement
On February 8, the 72-hour Operation Prahar-2 was initiated specifically to detain wanted criminals. Senior officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters actively participated, overseeing operations in different police districts throughout the state.
Special DGP Arpit Shukla outlined the details of the operation’s first day, noting that more than 2,000 police teams, composed of approximately 12,000 personnel, were involved in conducting the raids. During the course of these actions, a total of 1,895 individuals were detained, with 1,250 being officially arrested. This group included 40 proclaimed offenders and involved 298 preventive detentions, while police verified the identities of an additional 666 individuals, who were subsequently released after questioning.
Community Involvement and Anti-Gangster Helpline
The Punjab Police encourage public participation in their efforts to locate wanted criminals through an anonymous Anti-Gangster Helpline, which can be reached at 93946-93946. Citizens are urged to report any information they might have regarding criminal activities and the whereabouts of criminal elements.
Ongoing Anti-Drug Operations
In conjunction with Operation Prahar-2, the Punjab Police are continuing their anti-drug initiative, “Yudh Nashian Virudh,” which has now been in effect for 345 days. On the same day as the arrests, police apprehended 72 drug smugglers and seized a significant quantity of narcotics, including 26.4 kg of heroin, 772 intoxicant tablets and capsules, and more than Rs 12 lakh in cash believed to be linked to drug trafficking.
The cumulative figures reveal that, since the inception of this anti-drug campaign, a total of 48,331 drug smugglers have been arrested within the span of the last 345 days.
