The Chief Minister's Office of Punjab announced on Sunday, 24 May 2026 that the ongoing 'Gangsteran Te Vaar' anti-gangster campaign, launched under the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, completed its 123rd day with Punjab Police conducting 488 raids at identified and mapped locations linked to associates of gangsters across the state.

What Happened on Day 123

On the campaign's 123rd day, police teams carried out simultaneous raids at 488 locations that had been pre-identified and mapped as hideouts or meeting points of gangster associates. The day's operations resulted in fresh arrests of individuals found in possession of four weapons, pushing the campaign's cumulative arrest tally to 31,430 since its launch.

The post, shared in both Punjabi and English by the official CMO Punjab account, described the drive as a 'faislakun muhim' (decisive campaign), underscoring the state government's framing of the effort as a sustained, mission-mode operation rather than a one-off crackdown.

Context

Punjab has grappled with organised crime, inter-gang violence, and drug-trafficking networks for over two decades. These networks have historically operated across state and international borders, with gang members often communicating and directing operations from abroad.

When the Aam Aadmi Party government came to power in March 2022, it identified dismantling these networks as a governance priority. The 'Gangsteran Te Vaar' campaign operationalises that commitment through a data-driven model: police units map known associates, log their locations, and conduct coordinated, simultaneous raids to deny gangsters their support infrastructure.

Policy Backdrop

The campaign's architecture — daily raids on pre-mapped locations, cumulative public reporting of arrests, and regular updates via the Chief Minister's Office — reflects a deliberate transparency strategy. By publishing day-by-day figures, the government creates a public accountability trail and signals operational continuity to both law enforcement personnel and criminal networks.

Successive Punjab governments have periodically launched targeted police operations against organised crime. What distinguishes the present campaign is its reported scale and the systematic mapping methodology, which aims to disrupt the logistical and financial support structures that allow gangsters to operate even while incarcerated or abroad.

Stakeholders and Impact

For ordinary Punjab residents — particularly in districts historically affected by gang violence such as Amritsar, Ludhiana, and Mohali — the campaign's stated objective is to reduce extortion, targeted killings, and the fear that organised crime generates in everyday life. Families of those caught in the crossfire of gang conflicts represent a key constituency watching these figures.

For gangster networks, the sustained pressure on associates — the foot soldiers, logistics providers, and safe-house operators — is designed to erode operational capacity even when top-tier gang leaders remain at large or overseas. The seizure of weapons, even in small numbers per day, is framed as a cumulative effort to reduce the arms available to these networks.

What's Next

The CMO's daily reporting cadence suggests the campaign is designed for the long term, with no announced end date. Analysts and residents will watch whether the cumulative arrest numbers translate into measurable reductions in gang-related crimes, extortion calls, and targeted violence in the weeks ahead. The government's willingness to sustain the operational tempo beyond Day 123 will be a key indicator of political commitment as the campaign moves deeper into its fourth month.