Police need to address root problem to eliminate gangsterism

The metaphorical expression that “kill the mother of evil, not the evil itself” should be the motto of the police if it wants to have a clean and law-abiding society.

Senior officials admit that the main reasons for the sudden rise of gangsterism are the impact of drugs and violence, strong political links, going for violence through various means and a mix of socio-economic factors.

Gangsters seem to know everything about everybody. Businessmen and professionals like doctors, real estate dealers and even goldsmiths, feel they are being stalked every minute. These hoodlums have planted their foot-soldiers at strategic places. These minions, in turn, report activities of well-heeled people to their masters, a majority of whom are settled abroad.

Extortion cases, which earlier were an exception, have become the new normal. Some cases are reported to the police, while others go unreported.

“Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gets to know about everything and anything that happens in Punjab before he retires for sleep. This is irrespective of whether he is in prison or not. Why should I risk my life by informing the cops about the calls his henchmen make?” said a prominent Batala-based surgeon, himself a recipient of repeated threats.

Officials admit that in a majority of cases, tracing the callers becomes a tough task as gangsters often use Virtual Private Networ) (VPN). A VPN conceals the IP address, basically hiding the user’s digital footprints.

Calls made by foreign based gangsters are difficult to trace. The Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) is working overtime to neutralise these people but the problem is gangsters are always a step ahead of the cops.

Hoodlums freely use social media platforms to communicate, claim responsibility for their crimes and to lionise their lifestyles. These “self-adoration” acts as a catalyst in their recruiting young people.

A former Cabinet Minister recalls an incident which shows how deep the malaise has spread. “After taking oath as a minister, I reached the Civil Secretariat. Moments after I had entered my new office, I received a congratulatory call from a notorious Gurdaspur-based gangster. When I asked him how come he was using a phone while holed up in jail, he disconnected. I immediately made arrangements to confiscate his mobile phone. However, when I reached home, I received a call from a top Delhi politician to make sure the gangster was handed back his phone,” he recounted.

Just to think of it, this is a true story. Obviously, the minister is not willing to go on record. The lack of employment opportunities automatically creates a situation which is highly conducive for organised and unorganised crime to flourish. Youngsters look for easy money and a flashy lifestyle.

Till a few months ago, Pakistani drones ensured heroin flowed like water in Punjab. Profits were abnormally high and this would be used for the funding of gangs. Weapons used to be purchased through this money. The drones still come but their frequency has considerably dropped in recent months, particularly ever since Punjab Police installed its own anti-drone mechanism.

A majority of gangsters thrive on political patronage. In return, they provide muscle power to politicians during elections. Like it happened during the recent Tarn Taran bypoll when Canada-based gangster Amritpal Singh Bath openly threatened sarpanches, warning them to face the music if they did not vote for the SAD. So much so, gangsterism became the main issue in these elections.

In this context, people are also questioning the timing of the Batala police to bring Jaggu Bhagwanpuria on a police remand to the city from an Assam jail, just days before the polls. It is pertinent to mention here that he wields a lot of influence not only in his home district of Gurdaspur, but in adjoining areas too. And this includes Tarn Taran.

These criminals also help the political class to resolve disputes. This obviously blurs the line between crime and public life.

Prisons have become elaborate networking centres. People who are in jail for small-time crimes are often lured by gangs into their fold. A top gangster claimed that “the bonds of friendship developed by gangsters while serving time are firm and strong". Weapons, hitmen and hideouts are often shared. This makes the job of the police all the more difficult.

Officials involved in taming gangsterism in Punjab admit that the glorification of the gun culture often attracts impressionable youngsters to crime. This, too, needs to be curbed although the state had put in place several restrictions on Punjabi songs highlighting gangs and gangsterism.

Senior officials wonder when will the Punjab Control of Organised Act (PCOCA), framed on the lines of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, be made into a law. This act gives the police greater powers to deal with the mafia and it also envisages setting up special courts. The Punjab Government has reservations about some clauses of the Act, which means it is lying in cold storage.