Punjab’s crime landscape over the past two years reflects a combination of measurable declines in several major categories, intensive specialised police campaigns, and persistent challenges that continue to shape public perception. Official data released by the Punjab Police under Director General Gaurav Yadav provides the primary basis for understanding these patterns, though the figures come with important caveats about what they do and do not capture. In 2025, the police reported reductions across key indicators of serious crime. Murder cases fell by 8.7 per cent. Kidnapping and abduction declined by 10.6 per cent. Snatching incidents decreased by 19.6 per cent, while theft declined by a more substantial 34.3 per cent. These numbers suggest that certain high-visibility street and property crimes eased during the year. Punjab’s overall crime rate remains significantly lower than the national average.
A major focus of police activity has been the anti-drug campaign Yudh Nashiyan Virudh. By early August 2026, the cumulative figures showed over 54,900 FIRs, more than 75,000 drug-related arrests and the seizure of 3,472 kilograms of heroin. Parallel anti-gangster operations under Gangstran Te Vaar had resulted in more than 56,000 arrests. These specialised drives demonstrate sustained operational pressure on organised networks. Despite these gains, high-impact incidents such as targeted shootings and occasional attacks on police installations continue to attract public attention. Street-level insecurity in industrial belts remains a concern. An important limitation of the available data is the absence of any official classification of accused persons by place of origin. There is no systematic public record that separates crimes committed by residents from those involving migrant workers.
Taken together, Punjab’s recent crime trends show that focused police campaigns against drugs and organised gangs have produced tangible results in registered cases and recoveries. At the same time, the persistence of high-impact organised crime, the gap between official statistics and public perception, and the lack of detailed demographic breakdowns mean that the overall picture remains mixed. Continued progress will depend on sustained investigation quality, higher conviction rates, disruption of external networks and consistent local policing.
Analysis of NDPS Conviction Rates in Punjab
Punjab has reported a steady rise in conviction rates under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act in recent years. According to figures released by the Punjab Police, the conviction rate increased from 80 percent in 2022 to 88 percent in 2025, with early 2026 data placing it near 89 percent in cases decided by the courts. State officials have described these rates as the highest in the country.The year-wise figures provided by the Punjab Police show a consistent upward trend. In 2022, courts decided 4,812 NDPS cases and recorded 3,870 convictions (80 percent). This rose to 81 percent in 2023 (5,635 convictions out of 6,976 decided cases), 85 percent in 2024 (6,219 out of 7,281), and 88 percent in 2025 (6,488 out of 7,373). Partial data for 2026 indicated approximately 89 percent.
National-level data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) provides important context. NCRB’s annual “Crime in India” reports primarily track the number of cases registered under the NDPS Act across states and Union Territories. For recent years, comprehensive publicly detailed conviction-rate breakdowns by state for NDPS cases remain limited in NCRB publications. Older NCRB tables and secondary analyses have generally indicated that national conviction rates under the NDPS Act have historically been significantly lower than the levels now reported by Punjab.
Punjab Police attribute the improvement to a shift toward conviction-oriented policing. This includes prosecution-led investigations, stricter compliance with the procedural requirements of the NDPS Act, greater reliance on scientific and forensic evidence, financial tracking of drug networks, and technology-supported intelligence. Structured training, standard operating procedures, and closer coordination with prosecutors are also cited as contributing factors.
While the state’s reported figures show clear progress, it is important to note the distinction between state-released data and NCRB compilations. NCRB remains the primary national source for standardised crime statistics, including cases registered under special laws such as the NDPS Act. Full and consistent state-wise conviction rates for NDPS cases in the latest years are not always available in the same format from NCRB, which is why recent high rates for Punjab rely primarily on figures released by the state police and government.High conviction rates under the NDPS Act are significant because the law contains strict procedural safeguards. Lapses in search, seizure, sampling or documentation can result in acquittals. By focusing on the quality of evidence and investigation, Punjab aims to convert enforcement activity into lasting judicial results. Continued monitoring through both state data and future NCRB reports will be necessary to assess whether this trend is sustained.
Disclaimer: This article and accompanying images are for informational and illustrative purposes only. Some visuals may be AI-generated or digitally enhanced and may not depict actual events or persons.Views expressed are based on publicly available information and analysis.