The Punjab Police has shown remarkable success in maintaining law and order in the face of escalating violence and crime in the region. With a late surge in grenade attacks on police stations, the force has still managed to solve 100% of high-profile crimes and capture 66 terrorists.
During a press conference at the Punjab Police Headquarters, Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill highlighted the significant achievements of the force in combating various criminal activities. The war on drugs saw the arrest of 8,935 drug smugglers and suppliers, including 210 key figures. Additionally, the police successfully registered 12,255 first information reports (FIRs), with 1,213 involving commercial quantities of drugs in the year 2024.
The Punjab Police left no stone unturned in bringing perpetrators to justice, especially in the cases of attacks on police establishments and high-profile killings. Notable cases resolved include the grenade blast at a residence in Sector 10, Chandigarh, the grenade attack at a petrol station in Mansa, and a triple murder case in Ferozepur.
In the crackdown on cybercrime, the Punjab Police’s Cyber Crime Division achieved significant milestones with an 82.7% rise in cybercrime reporting compared to the previous year. This increase is attributed to the growing trust and awareness in the public. The establishment of 28 new cybercrime police stations led to 374 FIRs and the arrest of 64 individuals involved in cybercrime activities.
Moreover, the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting helpline (1930) received 35,201 complaints, reporting fraud worth Rs 467.1 crores. The division successfully recovered Rs 73.34 crores through lien marking, and Punjab ranked first nationally in lien marking in July. Additionally, over 7,500 harmful URLs were blocked, and 966 personnel were trained in cybercrime handling.
The fight against drugs yielded significant results as well, with the recovery of 1,099 kg of heroin, 991 kg of opium, 414 quintals of poppy husk, and 2.94 lakh pharma opioid tablets, capsules, and injections. The police also seized drug money worth Rs 14.73 crores, and took preventive action against notorious drug smugglers under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act.
Punjab Police’s efforts against gangsters resulted in the arrest of 843 proclaimed offenders and absconders in NDPS cases in 2024. The Anti-Gangster Task Force dismantled 198 gangster modules, arrested 559 individuals, and recovered 482 weapons, 102 vehicles, 7 kg of heroin, and Rs 2.14 crore in drug money. During encounters between police and criminals, three gangsters were neutralized, 63 were arrested, and 56 sustained injuries.
In their action against terrorists, the Internal Security Wing busted 12 terror modules, arresting 66 terrorists and recovering a significant amount of weapons and explosives. Additionally, measures were taken to curb mobile phone misuse in jails, leading to the blacklisting of 2,348 IMEI numbers and blocking of 731 mobile numbers associated with criminal activities.
The Punjab Police also focused on recruitment and modernization efforts, with the addition of 4,657 personnel and 426 high-end vehicles in 2024. The Sadak Surakhya Force (SSF) project resulted in a 15.74% reduction in road fatalities, saving 147 lives. The force also addressed 9,836 accidents, provided first aid to 5,661 individuals, and transported 5,686 injured persons to hospitals.
Lastly, the Prisons Department implemented advanced AI-based systems and V-Kavach jammers in sensitive prisons, aiming to counter organized crime effectively. The segregation of high-risk prisoners into high-security zones across 13 prisons underscores the determination of the Punjab Police to maintain peace and security in the region.