Under ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’, Punjab Police deploys a silent second line of defence — a technology-driven security corridor choking cross-border crime supply chains before contraband reaches cities.
Chandigarh, April 29: In a major escalation of its anti-gangster strategy, the Punjab Police has fortified a technology-driven “second line of defence” along the border belt, installing over 2,291 CCTV cameras at 585 locations to choke cross-border crime supply chains.
The initiative, part of the ongoing “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign, focuses on intercepting contraband and disrupting organised crime networks before they penetrate deeper into the state. While the Border Security Force (BSF) continues to guard the international border, the state police is strengthening internal surveillance to ensure any breach is quickly neutralised.
According to officials, 41 police stations across border districts have also been brought under CCTV surveillance, creating an integrated monitoring and response system. The move marks a shift from reactive policing to proactive disruption of criminal logistics.
Senior Superintendent of Police (Amritsar Rural) Suhail Qasim Mir said the second line of defence plays a decisive role in breaking the chain of crime. “Our nakas (checkpoints) are now intelligence-led and strategically placed. Any breach at the border is intercepted swiftly within our jurisdiction,” he said, adding that village-level defence committees and local intelligence networks are being actively integrated into the security framework.
Checkpoints have been made more unpredictable and targeted, backed by real-time intelligence inputs. Authorities have also intensified anti-drone vigilance, particularly in sensitive districts that have witnessed repeated drops of arms and narcotics.
Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav emphasised that strengthening this second layer is central to dismantling the entire ecosystem of organised crime. “The focus is on disrupting the supply chain—from cross-border movement to last-mile delivery. Early detection and swift neutralisation are key,” he said.
Security experts view this as a strategic shift in Punjab’s policing approach. Instead of focusing solely on arrests and encounters, the state is now targeting the infrastructure that enables crime—tracking movements, intercepting illegal consignments, and cutting off logistical support.
Another key aspect of the strategy is community involvement. Border villages are being treated as active partners, with local vigilance networks feeding actionable intelligence into the system. This integration has significantly enhanced the responsiveness and depth of the surveillance grid.
Officials say each intercepted drone drop, flagged vehicle, and tracked movement weakens the larger network of gangsters, many of whom operate remotely from abroad.
With this layered and technology-backed approach, Punjab is building what officials describe as an “unseen wall” along its borders—aimed not just at stopping threats, but systematically dismantling the networks behind them.