Punjab Police recover 713 illegal arms in 152 days under 'Gangstran Te Vaar'
Synopsis
In 152 days, Punjab's 'Gangstran Te Vaar' operation has pulled 713 illegal weapons off the streets — from sophisticated pistols to country-made firearms — along with over 2,000 rounds of ammunition. With a cross-border smuggling module busted in Amritsar and arrests in Ludhiana, the AGTF's coordinated crackdown is exposing how gangsters weaponise young recruits to fuel extortion and violent crime across the state.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police recovered 713 illegal arms in 152 days under the 'Gangstran Te Vaar' operation.
The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) also seized 218 magazines and 2,009 rounds of ammunition .
District-wise haul: Tarn Taran (243) , Amritsar city (201) , Ferozepur (155) , Amritsar Rural (92) .
Amritsar Commissionerate Police busted a cross-border smuggling module, arresting 8 accused with 11 sophisticated pistols .
DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed the crackdown on gangsters and their networks will continue across the state.
Punjab Police have seized 713 illegal weapons in 152 days since launching the anti-gangster crackdown operation 'Gangstran Te Vaar', Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said on 24 June. The haul, recovered from accomplices of gangsters across the state, also includes 218 magazines and 2,009 rounds of ammunition seized by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF).
Key Developments
The AGTF conducted multiple search operations and targeted drives to recover the cache, which spans a wide range — from sophisticated firearms to country-made pistols. District-wise, Tarn Taran recorded the highest recovery at 243 arms, followed by Amritsar city with 201, Ferozepur with 155, and Amritsar Rural with 92.
What the DGP Said
'The gangsters heavily lure youngsters to carry their illegal works, and offering them illegal weapons is one of them. The Punjab Police have recovered a huge cache of ammunition from time to time, but the weapons recovered from the henchmen of gangsters led to stopping various crimes across the state,' DGP Gaurav Yadav said in an official statement.
He added: 'The weapons recovered range from sophisticated arms to country-made pistols. The AGTF is performing great work in coordination with other departments and in the coming days the crackdown on gangsters and their operations will continue across the state.'
Cross-Border Smuggling Module Busted
In a related breakthrough, Amritsar Commissionerate Police recently dismantled a cross-border illegal arms smuggling network, arresting eight accused and seizing 11 sophisticated pistols and eight cartridges. Preliminary investigation indicates the accused were linked to a supply chain funnelling illegal weapons into the state. According to police, the recovered arms were earmarked for distribution among criminal elements to be used in extortion, violent crimes, and other unlawful activities.
Ludhiana Also Records Arrests
Separately, the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) staff of Ludhiana Commissionerate Police arrested two individuals found in possession of illegal weapons, adding to the statewide tally. The operation in Ludhiana reflects the AGTF's coordinated approach across multiple police jurisdictions.
What's Next
Authorities have indicated the crackdown will intensify in the coming weeks, with the AGTF continuing inter-departmental coordination. The pattern of gangsters using young recruits as weapon carriers has emerged as a key focus area for investigators, who say disrupting this pipeline is central to reducing gang-related violence across Punjab.
Point of View
But the more telling detail is the geography: Tarn Taran alone accounts for 243 recoveries, a district with a documented history of cross-border arms trafficking from Pakistan. The Amritsar smuggling module bust underscores that Punjab's gang problem is not purely domestic — it has an active supply-side dimension that no amount of street-level seizures alone can sever. The AGTF's coordination across jurisdictions is a structural improvement over past siloed efforts, but the DGP's own admission that gangsters are systematically recruiting youth as weapon carriers points to a deeper social pipeline that policing alone cannot close.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Gangstran Te Vaar' operation by Punjab Police?
'Gangstran Te Vaar' is an ongoing anti-gangster crackdown launched by the Punjab Police, now 152 days old. It is led by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and targets gangsters, their accomplices, and the illegal weapons networks that support criminal operations across the state.
How many illegal arms has Punjab Police recovered so far?
Punjab Police have recovered 713 illegal arms along with 218 magazines and 2,009 rounds of ammunition since the operation began. Recoveries span multiple districts, with Tarn Taran recording the highest haul of 243 weapons.
What was the cross-border arms smuggling module busted in Amritsar?
Amritsar Commissionerate Police dismantled a cross-border illegal arms smuggling network and arrested eight accused, seizing 11 sophisticated pistols and eight cartridges. Preliminary investigation revealed the accused were linked to a supply chain providing weapons to criminal elements for use in extortion and violent crimes.
Who is leading the anti-gangster crackdown in Punjab?
The crackdown is led by the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) under the overall supervision of Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav. The AGTF operates in coordination with multiple police commissionerates and district units across Punjab.
Why are gangsters distributing illegal weapons to young recruits?
According to DGP Gaurav Yadav, gangsters lure young people to carry out illegal work on their behalf, and providing them with illegal weapons is a key method of recruitment and control. Police say disrupting this weapons pipeline is central to reducing gang-related violence across Punjab.
