Punjab and Himachal Pradesh have been thrust into the spotlight this October, as law enforcement agencies in both Indian states have ramped up their fight against crime and narcotics. The numbers are staggering and the stakes couldn’t be higher. From sweeping crackdowns on organized crime in Punjab to targeted anti-drug operations in Kangra’s Nurpur region, the message from police authorities is clear: criminal activity, be it violent or drug-related, will not go unchecked.
According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), Punjab Police have been pursuing an aggressive, province-wide campaign against criminals and anti-state elements throughout 2025. The list of offenses reads like a litany of society’s gravest concerns—murder, kidnapping for ransom, rape, robbery, and other serious crimes. The results of these efforts speak volumes: a total of 11,198 outlaws, linked to 4,574 different gangs, have been arrested so far this year.
The scale of the crackdown is matched only by the value of goods recovered. Police have seized stolen property worth over Rs2.72 billion from these criminal elements. The haul is as diverse as it is valuable—vehicles, motorcycles, mobile phones, gold, cattle, and large sums of cash have all been recovered during the course of these operations. The numbers are not just impressive; they’re a testament to the methodical and relentless approach adopted by the Punjab Police.
The crackdown hasn’t stopped at recovering stolen goods. Authorities have also targeted the firepower that enables much of this criminal activity. In a year marked by high-profile busts, police have confiscated a veritable arsenal: 1,430 Kalashnikovs, 2,320 rifles, 27,630 pistols, 2,511 shotguns, 380 revolvers, and more than 200,000 rounds of ammunition. These weapons, often used to intimidate and inflict violence, are now off the streets—a development that provides at least some measure of relief to communities long plagued by gang activity.
Lahore, Punjab’s bustling capital, has been a particular focus of these efforts. In this city alone, police have apprehended 5,054 criminals associated with 2,273 gangs. The numbers are significant, revealing both the scale of the challenge and the determination of law enforcement to tackle it head-on.
Inspector General of Police (IGP) Punjab Dr Usman Anwar has made it clear that these actions are just the beginning. He has directed officials to further accelerate the ongoing crackdown, signaling that the fight against organized crime will continue unabated. “We must further accelerate the ongoing crackdown,” Dr Anwar reportedly instructed, emphasizing the need for vigilance and sustained pressure on criminal networks.
While Punjab’s police have been busy dismantling criminal syndicates, their counterparts in Himachal Pradesh have been waging a parallel war against narcotics. The Tribune reported a significant breakthrough in the Nurpur region of Kangra district on the night of October 11, 2025. During a special operation in the Kandhal Meinankabadi area, police intercepted an Alto car bearing a temporary registration number. What they found inside was a sizeable cache of charas—6.044 kilograms, to be exact—underlining the scale and audacity of drug trafficking operations in the region.
The three occupants of the car, identified as Anu Kumar, Suresh Kumar, and Ram Lal (all residents of Mandi district), were promptly arrested. Police registered a criminal case at the Nurpur Police Station under Sections 20 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities determined to trace the source and wider network behind the contraband. According to Superintendent of Police Ashok Rattan, “This recovery is part of the Nurpur police’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region.”
The Nurpur police’s anti-narcotics drive has not been limited to a single bust. In 2025 alone, officers have registered 74 criminal cases under the NDPS Act and seized a staggering array of illegal substances: 1 kg 530.69 grams of heroin (also known as chitta), 23 kg 154 grams of charas, 23 kg 570 grams of poppy husk (chura post), and 344 cannabis plants. The numbers paint a sobering picture of the drug menace facing the region.
But it’s not just drugs that have been seized. Authorities have also attached movable and immovable properties worth Rs 24.68 crore belonging to drug smugglers, and recovered Rs 1.27 crore in drug money. These actions are designed to hit traffickers where it hurts most—their wallets—and to disrupt the economic underpinnings of the drug trade.
So far this year, the Nurpur police have arrested 122 individuals in connection with drug-related offenses, including 112 men and 10 women. The arrests reflect a growing trend: as the police tighten the noose, traffickers are being forced out of the shadows. Yet the work is far from over. As The Tribune noted, police are committed to “dismantling the network of drug traffickers and bringing those involved to justice.”
The challenges facing law enforcement in both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are complex and evolving. Organized crime and narcotics trafficking are not problems that can be solved overnight, and both require a multifaceted approach—one that combines tough policing with community outreach, legal reforms, and cross-border cooperation. The sheer volume of arrests and seizures is encouraging, but it also highlights the scale of the underlying issues.
For residents of Punjab and Kangra, the recent crackdowns offer a glimmer of hope. There is a sense that authorities are finally making headway against the forces that have long threatened public safety and social stability. Still, for every gang dismantled or drug peddler arrested, new challenges arise. Criminal networks are adaptable, and the lure of easy money remains a powerful motivator for those on the margins.
Police officials, for their part, remain resolute. The message from both Punjab and Himachal Pradesh is unmistakable: the fight against crime and drugs will continue, with renewed vigor and determination. As the numbers climb and the headlines multiply, the hope is that these efforts will translate into lasting change for communities across northern India.
In the end, the true measure of success will not be found in statistics alone, but in the lived experiences of those who call these regions home. For now, at least, the battle lines are drawn, and law enforcement is holding firm.
