Operation Prahar: Punjab’s war against gangsters is a long haul

THE 72-hour Operation Prahar has signalled Punjab’s resolve to combat gangsters, who have become a major menace for the border state over the past decade or so. Going beyond routine crackdowns, the ambitious offensive involved over 12,000 cops. It’s laudable that the AAP government, which will complete four years in March, is going all out to dismantle the deeply entrenched ecosystem of organised crime. Finance networks, weapon supply routes, communication systems — the objective is to cover all bases. The raids linked to 60-odd gangsters operating with impunity from countries such as the US, Canada, UAE and UK have made a forceful statement about a zero-tolerance approach.

The state police’s warning that gangsters should not feel safe overseas marks a growing recognition that Punjab’s crime problem has gone transnational. The establishment of the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell and the push for Red Corner Notices against gangsters are crucial steps that highlight the linkage between local violence and global safe havens. Equally significant is the state’s attempt to involve citizens. The anti-gangster helpline and a Rs 10-crore reward policy aim to break the cycle of fear and silence that allows criminal networks to thrive. However, such measures will succeed only if anonymity is genuinely protected. Operation Prahar should be seen as a good start, not an endgame. The state government must be well prepared for legal hurdles and procedural delays. This is not a battle that Punjab can fight alone. It needs the support of Central agencies in India and abroad.

Punjab’s gangster scourge is intertwined with drug trafficking and arms smuggling. The ongoing war against drugs needs to be intensified. Upping the ante on the law enforcement front can help the state turn the tide.