DW BUREAU / Chandigarh As part of its ongoing decisive war against drugs and anti-social elements waged on the directions of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Saturday conducted a massive state-level Cordon and Search Operations (CASO) in all the 28 Police districts of Punjab, said Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav here. "The idea behind conducting these operations is to instill a sense of safety and security among the common people and to effect the seizure of drugs," he said. The operation was conducted from 11am to 3pm simultaneously across the state and ADGP/IGP rank officers from Punjab Police Headquarters were deputed in each Police district to personally supervise the operation. Giving out more details, the DGP said that the operation included all the CPs/SSPs of the concerned districts have mobilised maximum manpower for this operation, he said, adding that as many as 200 Gazetted Officers and 7500 NGOs/EPOs were deputed to conduct this operation. He said that the CPs/SSPs had identified hotspots where drugs are prevalent or certain areas which have become shelter/safe haven for criminals and anti-social elements, to carry out this operation amid massive deployment of the police force. The operation was conducted at at least 227 identified hotspots. DGP Gaurav Yadav said that during the CASO operations a thorough search of suspected houses was conducted under the supervision of ADGsP/IGsP and CPs/SSPs, while ensuring minimum inconvenience to the public. "All the police personnel were strictly instructed to deal with every resident in a friendly and polite manner during the course of this operation," he added. The DGP said that the Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Mann has mandated the Punjab Police to make Punjab a crime-free and drug-free state. He said that extensive drives against drugs and anti-social elements have been launched to combat the menace of drugs and root out gangsters from the border State. Such operations would continue till the menace of drugs and Gangsters wiped out from Punjab, he reiterated. "My message to all such anti-social elements to voluntarily leave the state otherwise the Punjab Police will deal them with a heavy hand," the DGP warned. Meanwhile, these types of operations are part of the basic policing which includes keeping vigil in vulnerable spots and advance preparation to tackle any untoward situation. Such operations also boost confidence among common people, besides, helping in activating and mobilising the Police force. (editor@dailyworld.in)