Police act tough against gangsters, criminals
Renewing its sustained campaign against gangsters, and criminals, the Commissionerate Police have achieved a major breakthrough during the past year.
Acting tough, the cops have neutralised 171 gangs with the arrest of their 605 active members, which helped trace 428 old cases in which they were involved.
The police arrested as many as 6,401 criminals in 5,216 cases registered under 26 different crime heads from January 1 to December 31 last, which also marked the end of British-era criminal laws.
The arrests made last year included 1,751 in 1,441 cases of snatchings and other property heads, from whom stolen properties worth over Rs 9.12 crore were recovered; 641 arrested in 468 Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) cases from whom a huge cache of over 20-quintal contraband was recovered.
Besides recovery of a huge cache of arms and ammunition, the cops also caught hold of 1,253 proclaimed offenders and history sheeters, 2,114 trouble-makers/ anti-social elements, 349 gamblers, and 277 liquor smugglers during the past year.
Moreover, the properties worth Rs 85.06-crore of 62 drug lords were confiscated while the cases of freezing assets worth Rs 3-crore of another four smugglers were proposed during the past year.
Commissioner of Police Kuldeep Singh Chahal said said under the anti-gangster operation, 605 wanted gangsters from 171 gangs, which were neutralised, were arrested to solve at least 428 old cases in which they were actively involved.
The action against illegal use of arms and ammunition led to the arrest of 47 criminals in 37 cases under the Arms Act and the IPC relevant sections with the recovery of 89 pistols/ revolvers, 3 rifles, 485 cartridges, 26 magazines, and a knife.
The rampant illegal liquor smuggling was also checked with the arrest of 277 smugglers in 232 cases under the relevant sections of the Excise Act and recovery of 1,028-litre illicit liquor, over 22973-litre licit liquor, 1.43-lakh litre lahan, and over 8,739-litre beer.
As many as 1,253 proclaimed offenders and history sheeters were apprehended in cases pertaining to various criminal offences, including 57 NDPS cases, in which they were wanted for a long time. Besides, 2,114 trouble-makers and anti-social elements were taken into preventive arrest.
Cracking the whip against property crime, the Commissionerate Police have arrested 1,751 accused in 1,441 cases with the recovery of stolen property worth over Rs 9.12-crore. Besides, 9276 stolen vehicles, 1,801 mobile phones, 1.04-kg gold ornaments, 3.188-kg silver ornaments, and Rs 1.2-crore cash had also been seized.
“Of the total 1,441 cases of snatching and other property thefts registered in 2024, as many as 888 cases were traced with the arrest of snatchers/ criminals involved and recovery of stolen/ snatched articles,” the Ludhiana top cop revealed.
He said of the total 5,216 cases registered under various sections of the IPC and other local laws, as many as 4,176 cases were registered with the arrest of criminals involved and recovery of case properties.
However, 567 cases of heinous crime remained undetected, which included 5 cases of blind murders, 3 culpable homicide not amounting to murder, 7 attempt to murder, 1 rape, and 178 cases of abduction besides 367 cases of crime against property.
The illegal business of gambling was also checked with the arrest of 349 gamblers in 152 cases with the seizure of Rs 2.36-crore cash used for gambling.
“We are adopting a zero tolerance approach against gangsters, and other criminals while renewing our offensive against the law-breakers. Nobody involved directly or indirectly in any illegal trade, gang-war and crime will be spared at any cost. The sustained drive against the gangsters and criminals would continue in future as well to target all those involved irrespective of their connection and position,” said Kuldeep Singh Chahal.
