Punjab Police has launched a 72-hour Operation Prahar against gangsters. Announcing it in Chandigarh, DGP Gaurav Yadav said that 2,000 police teams have been deployed in the field today (January 20) and are investigating the gangsters, their associates and family members involved in their activities across the state.
The DGP has also issued a helpline number, 93946-93946, to provide information about gangsters. The DGP said that this is the last chance for the youth to come back to the mainstream. Punjab Police will not spare anyone. There is no place for gangsters in Punjab. Gangsters should not consider themselves safe even abroad.
Since the police launched Operation Prahar, there have been encounters at two places in Jalandhar and Mandi Gobindgarh. In Mandi Gobindgarh, the police caught a gangster to recover weapons, but gangster Shiva opened fire on the police, injuring a Home Guard jawan. The police then exchanged fire, resulting in a shootout and he was caught.
In Jalandhar, two suspects were also stopped and opened fire on the police team. One suspect was injured in the crossfire, while his accomplice fled. They were accused of firing on Sukhchain Singh, who had come to India from the UK. According to the police, the conspiracy had foreign links. Sukhchain had financial dealings with a youth named Beant, who lived in the UK. For this purpose, Beant hired a shooter to carry out the attack through his friend Channa, who lived in the Philippines.
The DGP said that the operation has identified 60 major gangsters active in the state. They are currently abroad. The police have mapped 1,200 associates and 600 family members involved in criminal activities with them. 2,000 special teams with 12,000 police personnel have been deployed to monitor and take action against them. It is a 72-hour operation. They will then be interrogated.
The DGP said that if any family member is found involved in any criminal activities with the gangsters, action will also be taken against them. He said that gangsters living abroad should not think themselves safe. They will have to face the law. Their associates will be prosecuted. He appealed to the misguided youth to come back if they want to come back to the mainstream.
The DGP said that the properties of drug smugglers have been seized. Action will be taken against crime financing and money laundering. Action will be taken against any property or businesses linked to the gangsters. Action will also be taken against travel agents operating illegally. Action will also be taken against the agents who send gangsters abroad and against them after the crimes are identified.
The DGP said that the police has set up an Overseas Fugitive Trafficking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC). IG Counter Intelligence Ashish Chaudhary has been appointed as its in-charge. DIG AGTF Gurmeet Chauhan, DIG Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Akhil Chaudhary and Kanwaldeep Singh of the Bureau of Investigation (BOI) will be its members. Out of the 60 gangsters living abroad, red corner notices have been issued for 23, and efforts are on to nab the remaining gangsters.
