Punjab : Stepping up its tough stance against organised crime, the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has rolled out a 72-hour special operation named ‘Operation Prahaar-2’ under its ongoing anti-gangster campaign ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’. The drive aims to track down absconding criminals and dismantle gangster networks operating across the state.
The launch of Operation Prahaar-2 was announced by Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav during a press briefing following a high-level review meeting with Commissioners of Police (CPs), Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), and Range IGPs/DIGs. The meeting reviewed the progress of both ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ and the state’s anti-drug initiative ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’. Senior officials including Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, ADGP ANTF Nilabh Kishore, and Intelligence Chief Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill were present.
[Live] DGP Gaurav Yadav addressing a press conference at PPOI, Sector 32. https://t.co/yO5dgQ2wPh
— Government of Punjab (@PbGovtIndia) February 8, 2026
Operation Prahaar-2 Follows Earlier Success as Punjab Police Intensify Statewide Crackdown
Scheduled from Monday to Wednesday, Operation Prahaar-2 builds on the success of the earlier Operation Prahaar, during which 3,256 accused were arrested and 69 illegal weapons seized within 72 hours. To ensure strict implementation, senior officers from Punjab Police Headquarters have been assigned to directly monitor operations in designated police districts.
Highlighting the outcomes of the past 20 days, DGP Yadav said Punjab Police carried out 17,603 raids, resulting in the arrest of 5,290 individuals, including hardened gangsters and their associates. During this period, police recovered 128 weapons, arrested 344 proclaimed offenders, and initiated preventive action against 2,973 persons. More than 5,400 individuals were also questioned and released after verification.
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Addressing public concerns, the DGP clarified that the campaign is being conducted strictly within the framework of law and is focused solely on wanted criminals. He added that clear accountability has been fixed at every supervisory level, with senior officers closely monitoring district-wise performance.
To strengthen public trust and improve response time, CPs and SSPs have been instructed to maintain a strong and visible police presence, personally visit major crime scenes, and conduct field inspections in high-footfall zones and crime-prone hotspots. Police manpower is being reallocated from non-core duties to intensify round-the-clock high-tech nakas and sealing points, with special emphasis on checking vehicles, especially those without number plates.
Today, Punjab Police has launched an Anti-Gangster helpline seeking public cooperation to share information directly on 93946-93946 to help apprehend wanted criminals.
All information will be treated with strict confidentiality, and the identity of informants will be kept…
— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) January 20, 2026
On the parallel war against drugs, DGP Yadav stated that since the launch of ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ on March 1, 2025, Punjab Police has registered 33,779 FIRs, arrested 48,167 drug traffickers, seized 2,149 kg of heroin, and recovered ₹15.91 crore in drug proceeds.
The police have urged citizens to cooperate by sharing information related to criminals and gang activity anonymously via the Anti-Gangster Helpline: 93946-93946.