Punjab police blocks 643 social media pages under ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ drive

The Punjab Police has blocked 643 social media pages for allegedly glorifying weapons and criminal activities as part of its ongoing anti‑gangster campaign, “Gangstran Te Vaar,” officials said on Friday.

These actions are carried out under the Information Technology Act, 2000, specifically Section 69A and the associated IT (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules , which empower the government to direct the blocking of public access to online content that threatens public order, safety, or promotes crime.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Gurmeet Chauhan , said the initiative has made significant progress since its launch on January 21, 2026 , driven by strong public participation through the Anti-Gangster Helpline (93946-93946).

The helpline has received 590 inputs , including 83 related to drugs, 35 to extortion, 43 to gangsters, 86 to illegal weapons, and 74 to personal disputes , along with cases involving robbery, absconders, and immigration fraud. Chauhan said these inputs led to the registration of 63 FIRs and the arrest of 26 individuals , including 21 preventive detentions .

Emphasising the role of citizens, Chauhan said public cooperation has been “instrumental” in tracking criminal activity. He also highlighted a crackdown on the digital ecosystem supporting crime, with authorities actively monitoring and taking down content that promotes violence or illegal behaviour. Parents were urged to remain vigilant about their children’s online exposure.

The police have identified 61 foreign-based gangsters operating from abroad. To expedite their return, an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) has been set up to coordinate extradition efforts.

Since April 2022 , the AGTF has busted 1,111 gangster modules , arrested 2,868 gangsters , and recovered 2,273 weapons and 656 vehicles used in criminal activities.

The AGTF, led by ADGP Promod Ban , was constituted by the Punjab government to strengthen action against organised crime and dismantle gangster networks across the state.