TNNLudhiana: In a major push for community-driven policing, Ludhiana Police Commissionerate on Thursday held a large public meeting at Police Lines to strengthen coordination between law-enforcement agencies and local residents. According to the police, the event — described as a “massive display” of collaborative policing — saw participation from over 1,500 representatives of the city’s grassroots security network.The meeting was chaired by police commissioner Swapan Sharma, along with additional CP Rupinder Singh and other senior officers. The audience included members of 385 committees, such as village defence and ward defence committees, which the police said, demonstrated a unified civic front against crime.During the session, the police commissioner briefed committee members on what he termed as the “strategic success” of targeted policing initiatives. He highlighted the commissionerate’s aggressive stance on crime through a series of flagship operations aimed at “scrubbing the city of crime.”Operation Prahar 2.0According to Ludhiana police, Operation Prahar 2.0 has been an intensive drive against criminal elements. The operation resulted in the arrest of 232 accused, along with the recovery of a significant number of illegal weapons and contraband. Police said these actions had dealt a major blow to local criminal networks. The CP also said the operation forms part of the broader fight against drugs, with a focus on breaking the narcotics supply chain. He emphasised that community intelligence remains the “secret weapon” in efforts to make Ludhiana drug-free.‘Gangstraan te vaar’Another key initiative highlighted at the meeting was ‘Gangstraan te Vaar,’ which targets organised crime modules. Police officials informed participants that the dismantling of gangster networks has reduced incidents of extortion and street violence. They said these operations have produced “positive ripple effects” across the city.Addressing the gathering, commissioner Sharma reiterated that VDCs and WDCs serve as the “eyes and ears” of the police. The meeting covered a range of issues, including proactive neighbourhood-watch strategies to maintain law and order, public cooperation in easing Ludhiana’s chronic traffic bottlenecks, and feedback on increased police visibility as well as the impact of recent crackdowns.Police officials stressed that the session was not a one-way briefing but a platform for active engagement. Senior officers were seen taking notes as committee members raised concerns about beat-patrolling patterns and specific safety issues in different wards.The CP thanked participants for their “unwavering spirit of volunteerism” and for acknowledging the department’s recent achievements. He remarked that the effectiveness of the police depends on the strength of the community’s support, noting that the turnout at Police Lines reflected strong public partnership in the fight against crime.
