Jalandhar: Punjab Police has arrested more than 1.27 lakh people under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and seized over 7,260 kg of heroin since March 16, 2022, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, a 1992-batch IPS officer of the Punjab cadre, said on Wednesday.
Addressing mediapersons on the sidelines of the 67th State-Level Police Commemoration Day at the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) headquarters in Jalandhar, Yadav said the police had also frozen properties worth ₹902 crore belonging to alleged drug traffickers.
He added that anti-gangster operations launched in April 2022 had dismantled 1,288 organised criminal modules and resulted in the arrest of more than 3,300 alleged gang members.
Punjab Police Reports Major Seizures in Anti-Drug Operations
According to Yadav, the police have intensified action against drug trafficking under the state’s anti-drug enforcement efforts.
Read Also: Who Is Gaurav Yadav, Appointed Regular DGP of Punjab? UPSC Panel, 2-Year Tenure and Career Profile
Key figures cited by the DGP include:
- More than 1.27 lakh arrests: Made under the NDPS Act since March 16, 2022.
- Over 7,260 kg of heroin: Seized during the period.
- ₹902 crore in properties: Frozen in connection with alleged drug traffickers.
- 1,288 criminal modules: Dismantled through anti-gangster operations launched in April 2022.
- More than 3,300 alleged gang members: Arrested during the anti-gangster drive.
The DGP presented these figures while responding to questions from the media after the commemoration ceremony.
67th Police Commemoration Day Observed in Jalandhar
The 67th State-Level Police Commemoration Day was observed at the PAP headquarters to honour police personnel who lost their lives while fighting militancy, organised crime and other threats.
Yadav led the homage ceremony and laid a floral wreath at the Police Martyrs’ Memorial. Special DGP (Law and Order) Praveen Kumar Sinha (IPS: 1994: PB) and ADGP, PAP, MF Farooqui (IPS: 1995: PB), were also present.
A ceremonial parade was held within the PAP complex, during which the names of police personnel who had died in the line of duty over the preceding year were read out by the Commandant. The ceremony concluded with a two-minute silence and the laying of wreaths by senior officers.
Yadav said that 1,804 Punjab Police personnel had made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty since September 1981, including two personnel who died this year.
Paying tribute to the fallen officers, he said, “It is because of these brave martyrs that we are breathing in an atmosphere of peace today. The police have an illustrious legacy of gallantry, selflessness, and iron-willed determination to eradicate militancy. The force remains steadfastly committed to defending our frontiers and preserving communal harmony across the border state.”
Anti-Gangster Drive Targets Organised Criminal Networks
Yadav said the anti-gangster operations initiated in April 2022 had led to the dismantling of 1,288 organised criminal modules and the arrest of more than 3,300 gang members.
The reported action forms part of the police’s efforts to disrupt organised criminal networks operating in Punjab.
The department’s enforcement strategy, as described by the DGP, includes arrests, action against suspected criminal groups and the freezing of assets associated with alleged drug traffickers.
DGP Meets Families of Police Martyrs
Following the commemoration ceremony, Yadav met family members of police personnel who had died in the line of duty and listened to their concerns.
Senior officers from across the state attended the event, including Special DGPs, Additional DGPs, Inspector Generals of Police, Deputy Inspector Generals and other police officials.
The gathering recognised the sacrifices made by police personnel while also providing an opportunity for the leadership to acknowledge the concerns of their families.
Why Police Commemoration Day Is Observed on October 21
Police Commemoration Day is observed across India every year on October 21 in memory of ten Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel who were killed in an ambush by Chinese troops at Hot Springs in Ladakh on October 21, 1959.
The patrol was led by Sub-Inspector Karam Singh. The personnel were operating in difficult high-altitude conditions when they were attacked.
The incident became a symbol of courage and sacrifice in the history of India’s police forces. The annual observance honours police personnel from across the country who have died while performing their duties.
Punjab’s state-level ceremony formed part of this nationwide tribute, remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of public safety and national security.
Read Also: Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav Pushes Women Cops Into Crime, Intelligence and Law & Order Roles
