80 gangs operating in state, many with global links: DGPs

A high-level meeting of DGPs from seven states, along with officials from the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Haryana Narcotics Control Bureau and the Haryana Special Task Force (STF), was held in Panchkula today. The discussions centred on curbing drug trafficking, dismantling criminal networks and addressing organised crime, with a key revelation that 80 criminal gangs are currently active in Haryana, including eight major extortion gangs operating in the Delhi-NCR region.

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Wasim Akram, SP, Special Task Force (STF), Haryana, disclosed that gangsters are increasingly using multiple SIM cards, digital networks and international contacts to evade law enforcement. He highlighted that several gang leaders are operating from foreign locations, including Dubai, Pakistan, Armenia, Thailand, the USA, Portugal and Canada.

"Haryana has issued 35 lookout notices and revoked 22 passports to facilitate the extradition and deportation of these criminals with Interpol’s assistance," Akram said.

The meeting stressed the need for mandatory police verification of tenants and employees to track criminal movements and curb gang operations.

NIA DIG Santosh Kumar Meena warned that criminals are increasingly luring youth into gangs using social media platforms, where crime and gang culture are sometimes glamourised. He urged law enforcement agencies to closely monitor online content promoting gang activities and take strict action against influencers who spread criminal propaganda.

The meeting also emphasised the nexus between organised crime and drug smuggling. It was noted that drug-related activities generate significant illicit revenue for criminal organisations, making it crucial to disrupt supply chains.

NCB Deputy Director General Sambit Mishra stressed the need to identify key drug trafficking routes to prevent the smuggling of opium and narcotics across state borders. He praised Haryana for detaining habitual offenders but urged further interstate collaboration.

A key resolution from the meeting was to enhance real-time intelligence sharing through an inter-state drug secretariat, with each state appointing an SP-rank nodal officer to coordinate efforts.

Top police officials from Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Delhi and Haryana shared best practices and strategies to combat gang violence, drug smuggling, and cross-border criminal activities.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav, Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapoor, Himachal Pradesh DGP Dr Atul Verma, Chandigarh DGP Surender Singh Yadav, Punjab Special DGP Kuldeep Singh, Haryana State Narcotics Control Bureau DGP OP Singh, Rajasthan Additional DGP SOG Vijay Kumar Singh, Haryana Additional DGP SCB Mamta Singh, Uttarakhand Additional DGP (Law & Order) Dr V Murugesan and Delhi Additional Police Commissioner Pramod Singh Kushwaha were present.