In a move to cleanse Punjab of its pervasive drug and gangster culture, the state Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav on Thursday issued a clarion call to his force, granting them authority to strike hard against the lawbreakers. Chairing a state-level virtual meeting with the top police brass and the ground-level officers, DGP Yadav emphasized a no-nonsense approach to maintain law and order, urging his team to adopt professional policing practices and ensure that no criminal escapes the long arm of the law.

“Do professional policing and feel empowered to take right decisions to maintain law and order in the state. We will always support your action,” the DGP reiterated.

Addressing an extensive assembly of law enforcement personnel, including eight Range Additional Director Generals of Police (ADGPs), Inspector Generals (IGs), Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs), 28 Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs), 117 Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSPs), and 454 Station House Officers (SHOs), the DGP reviewed strategies to combat organized crime, drug trafficking, and terrorism.

Senior officers, including Special DGP Special Task Force (STF) Kuldeep Singh, Special DGP Law and Order Arpit Shukla, ADGP Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) Promod Ban, ADGP Intelligence RK Jaiswal, and ADGP Counter Intelligence Amit Prasad, participated in the meeting.

Highlighting the police force’s achievements, DGP Yadav noted the record seizure of 1450 kg of heroin in 2023. However, he underscored the necessity of curbing drug supply at the point of sale by intensifying surveillance on drug peddlers and smugglers. He instructed officers to identify and target major drug traffickers to dismantle supply chains effectively.

Yadav also emphasized the importance of employing financial experts to trace the flow of drug money and leverage Section 68-F of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act to freeze assets acquired through drug trafficking. Recently, Punjab Police has recruited domain experts to enhance its financial investigative capabilities.

Reaffirming the commitment to citizen-friendly policing, the DGP urged SHOs to build strong community connections and remain accessible to the public. He insisted that no anti-social elements should be spared, and officers must be present in their offices from 11 am to 1 pm on all working days to address public grievances.

The DGP also directed the Commissioners of Police (CPs) and Senior Superintendents of Police (SSPs) to collaborate with special units to eliminate gangster culture and drug-related activities. He instructed the district police chiefs to conduct monthly crime review meetings and hold orderly rooms to address the concerns of police personnel.

Special DGP, STF, Kuldeep Singh urged the field officers to tighten their grip on drug smugglers and disrupt drug supply chains. He announced the setup of a dedicated helpline to enable the public to confidentially report drug-related information.

Special DGP, Law and Order, Arpit Shukla highlighted the need for night operations and vigilance on repeat offenders, particularly those with multiple FIRs. “…Keep vigil around repeated offenders, especially those who have three FIRs registered against them,” he said.

ADGP (AGTF) Promod Ban advised officers to monitor gangsters and criminals who have been released on bail. ADGP, Intelligence, RK Jaiswal asked the CPs/SSPs to work in coordination with local CID officers, which will work as a force multiplier in the districts to enhance district-level intelligence operations.

ADGP, Counter Intelligence, Amit Prasad advocated for the revival of traditional intelligence methods, urging the officers to spend time in villages to gather information on criminal activities.

In a comprehensive review, field officers were reminded to adhere to time-tested policing principles, including the revitalization of the beat system to ensure thorough community engagement and crime prevention.

·         DGP Yadav empowers field officers to take strict action against drug and gangster culture

·         DGP emphasized professional policing and guaranteed support for officers’ actions

·         SHOs urged to build strong community connections, be accessible to public for citizen-friendly policing

·         CP, SSPs directed to collaborate with special units to eliminate gangster culture, drug activities

·         Special DGPs called for tighter surveillance on drug smugglers, night operations, and monitoring repeat offenders

·         ADGPs stressed importance of traditional intelligence methods and revitalization of beat system for crime prevention