Gangstran Te Vaar campaign: Punjab Police blocks 643 weapon-glorifying social media pages

Punjab Police says its Gangstran Te Vaar drive has blocked 643 social media pages that glorify weapons. Deputy Inspector General of Police Gurmeet Chauhan of the Anti-Gangster Task Force said the Anti-Gangster Helpline 93946-93946 received 590 tips since 21 January 2026, leading to 63 FIRs and 26 arrests, including preventive detentions.

Punjab Police said the Gangstran Te Vaar campaign has blocked 643 social media pages. Police said the pages promoted weapons or criminal acts. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Anti-Gangster Task Force AGTF, Gurmeet Chauhan shared the update on Friday. Police also said a new drive is being prepared to track online misuse.

The campaign also uses the Anti-Gangster Helpline 93946-93946 to collect public tips. Chauhan said the helpline drew strong public response since January 21, 2026. Police said people can share information anonymously. The number is meant to help reduce crime and trace wanted criminals.

Gangstran Te Vaar helpline draws inputs for Punjab Police

Chauhan said police received 590 inputs on the helpline. Police grouped them by type for follow-up action. The largest sets included drugs, illegal weapons, and personal enmity. Tips also mentioned extortion, gangsters, and other offences. Police recorded the rest under an "others\" category.

The split included 83 drug-related inputs and 86 about illegal weapons. Police also got 35 extortion leads and 43 linked to gangsters. Chauhan said 74 calls were about personal enmity. There were 13 tips on robbery and theft, plus 11 on proclaimed offenders POs and absconders.

Police said two inputs pointed to immigration fraud. Another 97 tips were listed as others, Chauhan said. Police said the public role has supported action on serious cases. Tips resulted in 63 FIRs being registered. Police also arrested 26 individuals, including 21 preventive detentions.

Gangstran Te Vaar targets social media pages, says Punjab Police

Chauhan said the AGTF is preparing a special campaign for social media monitoring. \"We have already got 643 pages blocked across various social media platforms for glorifying weapons or criminal activities. I appeal to parents to remain vigilant about their childrens activities to ensure they are not misled,\" Chauhan said.

Gangstran Te Vaar focus includes foreign-based gangsters, Punjab Police says

Punjab Police said it has identified 61 foreign-based gangsters operating from abroad. Police said an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell OFTEC was created. The unit is meant to speed up extradition efforts. Police said the aim is to bring suspects back to face legal action in Punjab.

Chauhan urged residents to use the helpline and assist policing efforts. \"Not only extortions, but people can report any suspicious gangster, criminal or anti-social activities using this number. I want to assure the public that complete confidentiality will be maintained,\" Chauhan said.

Chauhan also shared broader AGTF results since April 2022. Police said it busted 1,111 modules of gangsters and criminals across the state. Police said 2,868 gangsters were arrested during this period. Police also said it recovered 2,273 weapons and seized 656 vehicles used for crimes.

The Punjab government had earlier set up the AGTF to counter gangster culture. The task force is headed by Additional Director General of Police ADGP Promod Ban. Police said the helpline 93946-93946 remains active for anonymous information. Police said the campaign combines public inputs, online checks, and enforcement action.

With inputs from PTI