Chandigarh, Sep 3 : Punjab Police on Sunday launched a special cordon and search operation at the suspected hideouts of people linked with terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, a senior official said.

The move was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers based in India and abroad, he said. 

Simultaneous raids were conducted from 6 am to 10 am on the directions of Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav, wherein, all the residential and other premises linked with at least 297 close associates of Landa, were thoroughly searched in all the districts, according to a statement.