The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab announced on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 that Punjab Police conducted 469 raids across the state as part of the ongoing 'Gangstran Te Vaar' anti-gangster campaign, now in its 139th day. The raids targeted identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters, resulting in fresh arrests and the recovery of one weapon. According to the official post, police teams arrested multiple individuals during the operation, pushing the campaign's total arrest count to 35,076 since the drive was launched. A weapon was also recovered during the day's operations, adding to the cumulative seizures logged under the campaign.

Context

The 'Gangstran Te Vaar' — loosely translated from Punjabi as 'Strike Against Gangsters' — is a sustained, state-wide crackdown initiated by the Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann following his assumption of office in March 2022. The campaign targets not just active gangsters but their broader associate networks, using mapped intelligence to identify locations for raids. The 469 raids on Day 139 reflect the operational intensity the campaign has maintained over an extended period.

Policy Backdrop

Punjab has historically grappled with organised criminal networks involved in extortion, arms smuggling, and drug-related violence. The state's proximity to international borders and its historical exposure to the drug trade have made gangster networks a persistent law-and-order challenge. Successive administrations have launched periodic crackdowns, but the current government has framed Gangstran Te Vaar as a long-term, intelligence-led campaign rather than a short-term operation. The emphasis on 'identified and mapped locations' signals a data-driven approach to dismantling associate networks rather than pursuing high-profile targets alone.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary operational arm is Punjab Police, whose district and special units coordinate raids simultaneously across multiple locations. The campaign's sweep — 35,076 arrests over 139 days — suggests a broad dragnet that extends to peripheral figures in gangster ecosystems, including those who provide logistical or financial support. Residents in areas with historically high gang activity stand to benefit from reduced extortion and intimidation, while civil liberties observers continue to watch the scale of arrests for due-process concerns. The recovery of weapons, even in small numbers on any given day, is operationally significant given the role illegal arms play in gang violence.

What's Next

The government is expected to continue issuing periodic updates on cumulative arrests, weapons recovered, and any new geographic or thematic phases of the campaign. Analysts will watch whether the arrest figures translate into successful prosecutions and whether illegal weapons recoveries accelerate as the campaign deepens its intelligence mapping. The Punjab government has framed the drive as ongoing rather than time-bound, suggesting further operational escalation or geographic focus shifts are possible in the weeks ahead.