The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab announced on Monday, 27 July 2026 that Punjab Police conducted 532 raids across the state on the 187th day of the ongoing Gangsteran Te Vaar ('War on Gangsters') campaign, targeting locations linked to associates of gangsters. The raids resulted in fresh arrests, pushing the campaign's cumulative total to 53,248 arrests since its launch.

Context

The CMO Punjab's post stated that police teams 'arrested individuals with one weapon' during the day's operations, adding to the campaign's growing tally of seized arms. Three Proclaimed Offenders (POs) were also arrested during the same operation, underscoring the sweep's dual focus on gangster associates and individuals already wanted by courts.

The campaign's name, Gangsteran Te Vaar, translates roughly to 'Strike on Gangsters' in Punjabi. It has been described by the state government as a decisive, sustained effort to dismantle organised crime networks operating across Punjab.

Policy Backdrop

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, came to power in Punjab in 2022 on a platform that prominently featured promises of intensified action against drugs, gangsters, and organised crime. The Gangsteran Te Vaar campaign is a direct institutional expression of that commitment, combining high-frequency raids with systematic mapping of criminal networks and their associates.

Punjab has historically faced challenges from gang networks with reported links to drug syndicates and cross-border criminal connections. Successive state governments have prioritised high-visibility policing operations to improve public safety and reduce violence stemming from inter-gang rivalries. The current campaign reflects a continuation and intensification of that pattern under the Mann administration.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary targets of the campaign are gangster associates and Proclaimed Offenders — individuals against whom courts have issued warrants and who have evaded arrest. For ordinary Punjab residents, particularly in districts with a history of gang-related violence, the sustained operations are intended to reduce the threat of extortion, targeted killings, and drug-linked crime.

Punjab Police has deployed teams across identified and mapped locations, suggesting a data-driven approach to targeting. The arrest of individuals in possession of weapons, even in small numbers per day, contributes to a broader effort to reduce the circulation of illegal arms within organised crime networks.

What's Next

With the campaign now past its 187th day and cumulative arrests exceeding 53,000, attention will turn to whether the state government translates operational gains into measurable reductions in reported crime statistics. Observers will also watch for any related legislative or budgetary measures in the Punjab Legislative Assembly that could institutionalise the campaign's approach beyond its current operational phase. The pace of daily raids and arrests will remain a key indicator of the campaign's momentum in the weeks ahead.