Operation Prahar 2.0: 95 criminals arrested in massive crackdown in Ludhiana

Under the ongoing Operation Prahar 2.0, Police Commissioner, Ludhaina, Swapan Sharma, along with 500 policemen, remained in the field throughout the day on Monday. Under this massive crackdown, the commissionerate apprehended 95 criminals, including three accused wanted in murder cases.

The Commissioner was accompanied by DCP Rural Jaskiranjit Singh Teja, Additional DCPs Amandeep Singh Brar, Sameer Verma, Karanvir Singh, heads of all police stations, crime wings, etc.

Sharing the details about the crackdown, the Commissioner said that following the successful execution of the initial campaign against crime, in which 300 gangsters had been arrested, the police officially launched Operation Prahar 2.0. This second phase, initiated under the guidelines of Gaurav Yadav, DGP, marks an intensified escalation in the pursuit of high-profile criminals and the maintenance of public order.

The operation commenced with a high-level briefing to ensure tactical precision. S Boopathi IGP (Provisioning), Punjab, briefed the teams on the mission’s objectives, emphasizing zero tolerance for organised crime.

A massive force of 500 police personnel and 28 specialised teams, each led by a gazetted officer, conducted 89 simultaneous raids across strategic hideouts. The operation led to the arrest of 95 active gangsters and wanted criminals/ absconders (POs) and seizure of 87 gm of heroin and 92 prohibited tablets, two boxes of illicit liquor, one .32-bore pistol and ammunition and six two-wheelers, added Sharma.

“Operation Prahar 2.0 is not a one-day exercise. These surgical strikes and raids will continue systematically until every high-risk element is behind bars. We had also received vital inputs from the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) about gangsters and other notorious elements. Their places were raided and many of them detained. This operation will run for 72 hours and more arrests will be made,” he added.

The Commissioner revealed that the police had gathered vital clues about weapon suppliers and even identified some suspects acting as middleman in this. He also issued warning to arms licence holders that their licences would be cancelled if found misusing the weapons. “List of over 100 persons whose arms licence are to be cancelled has also been prepared,” he further said.