Category: Crime

Punjab E News (April 11): As the decisive ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann enters its 81st day, Punjab Police on Saturday conducted 516 raids at the at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.

As per the information, the “Gangstran Te Vaar”— a decisive war to make Punjab a gangster-free state was launched by the Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav on January 20, 2026. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab has been conducting special operations across the state.

On Day 81, Police teams arrested 239 individuals after recovering two weapons, taking the total arrests to 20,395 since the launch of the campaign.

Apart from this, preventive action has been taken against 72 persons, whereas, 69 persons were verified and released after questioning. Police teams have also arrested 14 proclaimed offenders (POs) during the operation.

People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

Meanwhile, Police teams have continued its drive against drugs “Yudh Nashian Virudh” for 406th day with 104 drug smugglers arrested on Saturday and recovered 1.8 kg heroin, 18 kg ganja, 1486 intoxicant tablets/capsules and Rs 6750 drug money from their possession. With this, the number of total drug smugglers arrested has reached to 58,290 in just 406 days. As part of De-addiction, the Punjab Police has convinced 33 persons to undergo de-addiction and rehabilitation treatment today.

Batala News (April 11): In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Batala Police has busted a cross-border drug and illegal weapon smuggling racket with the arrest of three accused persons, including a juvenile, and recovered 6.5 kg heroin, one .30 caliber pistol along with six live cartridges, and ₹1 lakh drug money from their possession, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Saturday.

Those arrested have been identified as Nishan Singh, a resident of Mulianwal in Batala, Ravipal Singh, a resident of Raipur and one Juvenile. Apart from recovering contraband and drug money, the police teams have also impounded their Toyota Fortuner car.

The development came following the meticulous investigation into the backward and forward linkages and sustained interrogation of two accused persons identified as Vansh and Sukhchain alias Jashan, who were arrested in connection with extortion-related firing incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Police Station Civil Lines in Batala on March 30, 2026. Two .30 bore pistols were recovered from their possession.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the significant recovery of drugs and weapons highlights the strong nexus between extortion, drug trafficking, and illegal arms networks. Preliminary investigation has revealed that weapons were being supplied to operatives within the network, he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Sandeep Goel said that probe has revealed that the arrested accused persons were acting on the directions of their foreign-based handler. Further investigation is underway to establish both forward and backward linkages in this case to dismantle the entire network, he added.

Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Batala Mehtab Singh said that during the investigation, accused Vansh and Sukhchain disclosed that they had received weapons from suspects— one is juvenile and other is identified as Ravipal. Acting swiftly on their disclosures, police teams have arrested Ravipal Singh and his juvenile accomplice, who confessed to coordinating the smuggling of weapons and drugs.

”Accused Ravipal revealed that he had delivered a consignment to Nishan Singh on the directions of their overseas handler,” said the SSP, while adding that acting on this lead, police teams intercepted Nishan Singh’s Fortuner car near Kamla Devi Avenue in Amritsar and arrested him leading to the recovery of 6.5 kg heroin, one .30 caliber pistol along with 6 live rounds, and ₹1 lakh drug money from his possession.

In this regard, a case FIR no. 103 dated 31/3/2026 under sections 109 and 3 (5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act was already registered at Police Station Civil Lines in Batala.

 

Chandigarh News (April 11): In a yet another milestone decision, the Punjab Government has authorised Punjab Police personnel to reward genuine informants under the new ‘reward policy’ for sharing information regarding ‘wanted criminals/gangsters’ or their network in the state. It also released a list of 28 most wanted criminals.

Under the project ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’, the Bhagwant Mann led Punjab Government has approved sanction powers up to Rs 1 lakh to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP); Rs 1.5 lakh to Commissioner of Police/Range Inspector General of Police/ Deputy Inspector General of Police; Rs 2 lakh to Heads of Wings (Special Director General of Police/Additional Director General of Police); and above Rs 2 lakh to Director General of Police (DGP). The sanctioned amount will be rewarded to the informants only on providing correct and genuine information. The project has been introduced for increasing the involvement of residents to help Punjab Government and Punjab Police make the state safe.

“Punjab Government has approved the above mentioned sanction powers for the designated police personnel. The information will be verified first, and the informants will be awarded as per the criteria. The identity of the informants will not be disclosed or made public at any level of police, public or government. The aim is to close all doors from criminals and gangsters working in the state, and the Punjab Government aims to go to any extent for achieving this aim,” informed Pramod Ban, ADGP, AGTF.

The information can be shared at ‘Anti-Gangster Helpline’ 9394693946. “The informants providing credible info that leads to the arrest of wanted criminals, Proclaimed and Habitual Offenders will be awarded. The Punjab Police will follow the leads provided by the informants. This project will also give extra wings to the Punjab Police network in stopping the trouble makers. The information gathered through this project (will be further) used for enhancing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ under operation Prahaar,” said Pramod Ban. This will be a high-quality reward program where the identity of the tipsters will be protected. “We want more and more people come forward to help the government and police denting the criminal activity in the state. To safeguard each and every resident of this state is our duty and responsibility. We would entrust the information only after proper vetting, and there’s no question of any danger to the informant,” he added. The amount will be decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the gravity of the offence, risk involved and quality of information. The policy is part of the ongoing ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign aimed at making Punjab gangster-free.

Meanwhile, under ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign Punjab Police recently conducted 56,487 raids at the at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.
Some information regarding these sites were also shared through the special number launched by the Bhagwant Mann led government. Police teams from all the districts in coordination with Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Punjab has been conducting special operations across the state. A total of 19,894 arrests have been made since the launch of the campaign. Prevention action has been taken against 9353 persons, whereas, 15284 persons were verified and released after questioning. As many as 851 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested.

People can anonymously report information related to wanted criminals and gangsters, and also share tips on crime and criminal activity, through the Anti Gangster Helpline number 93946-93946.

Gangsters operating from abroad, funding shooters in UP & Bihar; several such shooters have been arrested in Punjab: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann

Punjab News (10 April 2026): The Bhagwant Mann Government has sent out a clear and uncompromising message against crime, demonstrating both reach and resolve by bringing back Kamal Kaur murder accused Amritpal Singh Mehron from the UAE even as it intensifies its crackdown on gangster networks operating from abroad. Highlighting how such syndicates are funding shooters in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann underscored that several such operatives have already been arrested in Punjab, while the AAP government continues to coordinate closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs to track down and extradite accused from across the world.

Interacting with media persons, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Punjab Government is in constant touch with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs to ensure the deportation of gangsters and criminals wanted in Punjab, noting that these sustained efforts are yielding results with several key accused already brought back. “The law and order situation in Punjab remains normal and emphasised that the ongoing Gangsters te Vaar campaign is delivering a decisive blow to crime,” he affirmed.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “All those gangsters about whom we receive information are not operating their network from Punjab, but are running their operations from abroad. Some individuals are supplying weapons, while there are shooters who are being paid in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar; many such shooters have also been arrested.”

Highlighting the coordinated response mechanism, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann added, “When we receive such information, we immediately contact the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs, and we have been able to bring some of them back. Some come from Dubai, sometimes from Portugal, sometimes from England, sometimes from America, and sometimes from Canada,” underlining the global spread of these criminal networks and the government’s crackdown.

Reaffirming Punjab’s identity and the government’s commitment, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated, “Punjab is a peace-loving state. It is a land of people who wish for the welfare of all, and we too are constantly working for the well-being of everyone.”

Meanwhile, AAP Punjab General Secretary Baltej Pannu welcomed the successful apprehension of key accused Amritpal Singh Mehron in the Kamal Kaur murder case, stating that his arrest and return from the United Arab Emirates reflects the firm commitment of the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government to uphold law and order.

Baltej Pannu said that the social media influencer Kamal Kaur was murdered in Bathinda in June last year, and since then, Punjab Police had been consistently pursuing the accused. He added that under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, the government adopted a zero tolerance policy against crime, which ensured that the accused was tracked and brought back to face justice.

He emphasised that anyone who believes they can commit a crime in Punjab and escape by hiding in another state or country is living under a serious misconception. “No matter where they go, they will be traced and brought back,” Baltej Pannu asserted.

Reiterating the government’s strong willpower, Baltej Pannu said that no individual who takes the law into their own hands will be spared. He affirmed that such offenders will be brought back from any corner of the world and punished strictly as per the law.

Gurdaspur News (April 9): In a major breakthrough amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a safe and secure state as per directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Amritsar Rural, Gurdaspur and State Special Operation Cell (SSOC) Amritsar of Counter Intelligence wing in a joint operation with Central Agencies has busted an ISI-sponsored Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) terror module with the arrest of its two operatives, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here on Thursday.

Those arrested have been identified as Akash Masih and Jablaun, both residents of Dulla Nangal in PS Ghuman Kalan in district Gurdaspur. Both the accused have criminal past.

DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the arrest of these two operatives led to significant recoveries which includes five hand grenades, two special detonators, Push-to-Talk (PTT) timer with coder and decoder, 9V battery, Improvised Explosive Device (IED) material (1 kg high explosive packed with nails), one Baofeng walkie-talkie with cable and trigger mechanism. The recovery indicates that the module was preparing to commit high-impact terror attacks aimed at disturbing public peace in the state, he said.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Border Range Sandeep Goel said that preliminary investigations have revealed that the ISI-backed terror module was being operated by foreign-based handlers. Further investigation is underway to establish forward and backward linkages and to unearth the entire conspiracy and local support networks, he said.

Sharing operational details, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Gurdaspur Aditya said that during a special police checking at T-Point Jogowal Bedia, two young men were spotted approaching on a motorcycle from the direction of village Jogowal Bedia. Upon seeing the police, the suspects attempted to make a U-turn to flee from the spot, he said, while adding that police teams managed to intercept them.

The SSP said that the pillion rider was holding two bags— Blue and Yellow— covered with a cloth. Upon search of bags, explosive material and devices were recovered from their possession, he said, while adding that forensic and bomb disposal teams were immediately summoned to the spot, and the explosives and grenades were successfully defused.

In this regard, a case FIR No. 45 dated 08/04/2026 under sections 4 and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act has been registered at Police Station Kalanaur in Gurdaspur.