The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab announced on Thursday, 23 July 2026 that Punjab Police conducted 718 raids across the state as part of the ongoing anti-gangster drive, marking the 183rd day of the 'Gangsteran Te Vaar' campaign.

What happened on Day 183

Police teams carried out raids at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across Punjab. On this single day, officers arrested individuals along with five weapons, pushing the campaign's cumulative arrest count to 51,702 since the operation's launch. In addition, preventive action was taken against 267 persons, and 11 Proclaimed Offenders (POs) were apprehended during the operation.

Context

'Gangsteran Te Vaar' — loosely translated as 'Strike Against Gangsters' — is a sustained crackdown initiated by the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who took office in March 2022. Tackling organised crime, gang networks, and cross-border smuggling was positioned as a central governance priority from the outset of the administration. The campaign relies on intelligence-led mapping of associates and hideouts linked to known gangsters, enabling targeted raids rather than broad sweeps.

Policy Backdrop

Punjab has historically grappled with organised crime networks that intersect with drug trafficking, cross-border smuggling, and remnants of historical militancy. Successive state governments have launched large-scale operations, but the current campaign's structured, day-by-day public reporting marks a departure in transparency and sustained communication. The CMO Punjab has been regularly updating the public via official channels, framing the drive as a long-term commitment rather than a short-term surge. The use of mapped locations and preventive detentions signals a data-driven approach to dismantling gang ecosystems at the associate level, not just targeting top figures.

Stakeholders and Impact

For ordinary Punjab residents, particularly in districts historically affected by gang violence and drug networks, the campaign represents a visible assertion of state authority. Punjab Police personnel conducting daily raids bear the operational burden, while communities in affected areas experience both the disruption of criminal networks and the presence of active police operations. The cumulative figure of 51,702 arrests over 183 days indicates an average of over 280 arrests per day since the campaign began, reflecting the scale of the mobilisation.

What's Next

With the campaign now past the six-month mark, attention will turn to whether the sustained arrest numbers translate into measurable reductions in gang-related incidents and crime rates across the state. Official crime statistics and any legislative proposals in the Punjab Assembly aimed at strengthening the legal framework against organised crime will be key indicators of the campaign's longer-term impact. The government's continued daily public reporting will also serve as a measure of political accountability on the law-and-order front.