Mann Govt Unleashes ‘Gangsters te Vaar’, Declares War on Organised Crime: Baltej Pannu

Chandigarh:The Mann government on Tuesday launched a full-scale offensive against organised crime in Punjab with the formal rollout of the campaign ‘Gangsters te Vaar’. AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu said the initiative marks the beginning of a decisive and uncompromising battle to uproot gangsterism from the state.

Addressing a press conference at the party office here, Pannu said the campaign reflects the firm political resolve of the Bhagwant Mann-led government to restore peace and lawfulness in Punjab. “After breaking the backbone of the drug supply chains, Punjab Police has now turned its attention towards dismantling the gangster networks that have been terrorising society,” he said.

He recalled that under the ‘War Against Drugs’, police arrested major and minor smugglers, seized massive quantities of narcotics and struck hard at both supply routes and street-level distribution. Being a border state, Punjab has remained vulnerable to cross-border drug trafficking, but the government responded with strict measures, including the installation of anti-drone systems to check smuggling attempts.

Pannu said ‘Gangsters te Vaar’ has been launched at a war footing after extensive planning and assessment, making it one of the most comprehensive crackdowns on organised crime in the country. From early Tuesday morning, coordinated police teams conducted raids at multiple locations across Punjab, yielding initial successes. “The next 72 hours will bring more concrete results,” he asserted.

Tracing the roots of gangster culture, Pannu said the term “gangster” entered Punjab’s vocabulary only 15 to 18 years ago. Earlier, petty criminals were simply called ‘badmash’. He alleged that between 2007 and 2017, gangsterism was deliberately promoted, youths were drawn into crime, and violence reached alarming levels. Attacks on police personnel, abductions and incidents like the Nabha jail break, he said, remain grim reminders of that phase.

He accused the Congress government of failing to act against the menace and alleged political patronage to criminals. Referring to a case where a gangster from Uttar Pradesh was kept in a special jail in Punjab, Pannu said the UP government had to approach the Supreme Court to take back custody. “It is an open secret that traditional parties nurtured gangsters for political convenience and abandoned them later,” he remarked.

Targeting political rivals further, Pannu said that giving a ticket to a gangster’s family member in the Tarn Taran bypoll amounted to legitimising and encouraging gangster culture. “The Mann government will not compromise on this issue. Punjab must be freed from this poison,” he declared.

Sharing developments from Tuesday’s operations, Pannu said gangster Money Prince was killed in an encounter in Amritsar after he opened fire on police during an arrest attempt. The operation continued for several hours. In another encounter in Mandi Gobindgarh, Fatehgarh Sahib, a gangster was shot in the leg after firing at police and is currently undergoing treatment. He is involved in about nine FIRs, including cases under the NDPS Act and robbery. “These are just two examples of the action underway,” Pannu said.

He warned that the government would respond firmly to threats and extortion attempts. Quoting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he said, “If a gangster fires bullets, he will not be answered with lullabies.”

Pannu added that Punjab Police is working closely with the Central Government to bring back gangsters operating from abroad. Dossiers have been prepared and shared, and preparations for extradition are complete. “Whether across states or across countries, criminals will be pursued within the framework of law,” he said.

Appealing to the public, Pannu stressed that people’s cooperation is vital to eradicate gangsterism. He announced the launch of a dedicated helpline number 93946-93946, assuring complete confidentiality to informers. Those providing credible information leading to action against gangsters will be rewarded, he said, adding that police personnel showing exemplary courage and performance will also be suitably honoured by the state government.

Praising Punjab Police, Pannu said it is among the finest police forces in the world and fully capable of executing this mission.

Concluding, he said gangsterism and drugs are poisonous legacies left by previous regimes. “The war against drugs and ‘Gangsters te Vaar’ are battles to cleanse Punjab of those thorns. The Mann government has the willpower to see this through. Anyone who threatens peace, takes the law into their own hands or harasses the people of Punjab will not be allowed to roam free,” he asserted.