MASSIVE CRACKDOWN AGAINST DRUG SMUGGLERS, ANTI-SOCIAL ELEMENTS AS PUNJAB POLICE CONDUCT CASO ACROSS PUNJAB

Chandigarh: As part of the ongoing drive to make Punjab a crime-free and drug-free state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Tuesday conducted a Cordon and Search Operation (CASO) across the state aimed at deterring anti-social elements and instilling sense of security and safety among common public. The operation was conducted on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav.

The operation was conducted from 11am to 4pm simultaneously in all the 28 Police districts of the state and ADGP/IGP rank officers from Punjab Police Headquarters were deputed in each Police district to personally supervise the operation. The CPs/SSPs were told to plan this operation in a meticulous manner by identifying notorious/infamous mohallas/villages where drugs are prevalent or certain areas which have become shelter/safe haven for criminals and anti-social elements, to carry out this operation amid massive deployment of the police force.

DGP Gaurav Yadav reiterated that making Punjab a drug-free state besides eliminating gangster culture, maintaining law and order, and detection of crime is the topmost priority of the Punjab Police.

Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla, who joined Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ropar Range Gurpreet Singh Bhullar and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sandeep Garg in SAS Nagar, said that the Punjab Police have not been leaving any stone unturned to make Punjab free from crime and drugs. “These kinds of CASOs at mass-scale level not only help in infusing fear among anti-social elements, but also boost public confidence and increase the presence of the cops in the field,” he said.

The ADGP said that during the operation, Police teams have cordoned off over 324 hotspot areas and as many as 5781 persons were frisked of which 205 persons have been arrested. The Police have also registered 187 first information reports (FIRs) and arrested nine proclaimed offenders. Apart from this, the Police teams have recovered 2.8Kg Heroin and ₹2.20 lakh drug money, besides recovering other drugs.

The operation was conducted after the identification of drug and crime hotspots through data analysis by district police forces, he said, adding that proper frisking of suspected persons and complete search of houses was done by the Police force under the supervision of senior officers. He said that sniffer dogs were also deputed in these hotspots to ensure strict vigil.