Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab spokesperson Neel Garg on Tuesday lauded the launch of Punjab’s biggest-ever crackdown against organised crime, calling it a full-scale “War on Gangsters”, after the massive success of the government’s “Yudh Nashian Virudh” campaign.
Addressing a press conference along with AAP leader Butta Singh Bairagi at the party office, Neel Garg said that 325 days ago, on March 1, 2025, Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government had launched a decisive war against drugs. “In these 325 days, nearly 32 thousand FIRs have been registered, thousands of drug smugglers arrested, huge quantities of drugs and drug money seized, and Punjab today has the highest conviction rate in the country, around 86%,” he said.
Garg said the drug supply chain has been “broken ruthlessly”, and credited Punjab Police and the people of Punjab for the success. “This campaign proved one thing very clearly, if a government is honest and its intentions are clean, people stand with it and success is guaranteed,” he said.
Turning to the next major challenge, Garg said gangsterism is not a new disease, but one that flourished under previous governments. “The same governments that gave protection, power, security and even political tickets to gangsters are responsible for spreading this menace,” he said.
Neel Garg announced that the Mann government has now launched India’s biggest-ever operation against gangsters. “For the first time in history, 2,000 police teams with over 12,000 personnel are conducting continuous search and chase operations across Punjab.
This shows our zero-tolerance policy,” he said. “This is not a political fight. This is a fight for Punjab’s future,” Garg asserted. “Just like ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ gave Punjab new hope, Yudh Gangsters Virudh will give people a new sense of security.”
He made it clear that there will be no mercy and no protection for gangsters. “That era is over when gangsters were patronised. Today, the message is clear, drop weapons, leave Punjab, or go to jail,” he said. Garg revealed that around 60 gangsters operating from abroad have already been mapped, their local networks identified, and strict legal action will follow.
“Whether a gangster is in Punjab, anywhere in India, or sitting abroad, he will not be spared. Those funding or supporting them will face the same fate,” he said. At the same time, Garg appealed to misguided youth to return to the mainstream. “If any youth wants to leave this path and come back to society, they are welcome,” he said.
Calling for public support, Garg urged people to share information on the dedicated helpline 93946-93946. “Information will go directly to the Anti-Gangster Task Force, will be kept completely confidential, and strict action will follow after verification,” he assured.
Taking a swipe at opposition parties, Garg said, “Those who shout daily about law and order should first look at the situation in states run by their own governments. Instead of creating hurdles, they should learn from Punjab’s model and support this fight.”