Chandigarh: The Punjab Police has intensified its crackdown on organised crime with the launch of the second phase of Operation Prahar, aimed at dismantling gangster networks operating within and outside the country. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said on Sunday that formal processes have been initiated to bring back 38 wanted gangsters currently based overseas.
Announcing the new phase of the operation, scheduled to begin on February 9, Yadav said these individuals were coordinating criminal activities in Punjab while staying abroad. Requests for their extradition or deportation have been sent to the Centre as per established legal procedures. He added that the 38 names form part of a larger list of 61 foreign-based gangsters, with documentation against the remaining suspects still being compiled.
“We are determined to track down and arrest offenders wherever they are located,” the DGP said, underlining that police action would be limited strictly to those named in criminal cases. He was speaking after a review meeting with senior officers and district police chiefs.
Responding to criticism over recent killings in Mohali and Jalandhar, Yadav said investigators had identified the prime suspects and arrests were imminent. He reiterated that no criminal would be spared, regardless of attempts to intimidate the police.
Reflecting on the results of the first phase of Operation Prahar, popularly referred to as “Gangster te War,” the DGP said thousands of individuals linked to organised crime had been brought under scrutiny. Since January 20, police teams have arrested over 5,200 alleged associates of gangsters and placed nearly 3,000 others under preventive detention. More than 13,700 suspects were verified during the drive.
He dismissed allegations circulating online about unlawful detentions, stating that action was taken only after verification of criminal links. “Claims of indiscriminate arrests are misleading and untrue,” he said.
The police have also targeted the digital ecosystem supporting organised crime. According to officials, more than 10,000 online links spreading threats or glorifying gangsters have been acted upon, close to 350 FIRs registered, and thousands of arms licences either suspended or under review.
On threats issued by fugitive gangster Goldy Brar, Yadav said such tactics would not deter law enforcement. “Criminals cannot be allowed to project themselves as icons. We have already zeroed in on those responsible for the Jalandhar murder case,” he said.
Highlighting crime data, the DGP maintained that Punjab continues to fare better than the national average. He cited official figures showing the state’s overall crime rate and incidence of serious offences to be significantly lower than the all-India average.
Addressing the murder of an elderly woman in Hoshiarpur, Yadav said preliminary findings suggested a personal dispute rather than organised crime involvement, noting that crimes driven by personal motives cannot always be predicted or prevented.
Since last year, police have recorded 92 shooting incidents in the state, most linked to gang rivalries, with 84 cases already solved. On the anti-drugs campaign ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh,’ Yadav said sustained enforcement had led to the arrest of around 45,000 people so far, including hawala operators and major traffickers, with over two tonnes of heroin seized.
“The fight against gangsters and drugs is ongoing and uncompromising,” the DGP asserted, signalling continued aggressive policing in the months ahead.
