‘Operation Prahar 2.0’ begins today, 5,000 gangsters nabbed in Ph-1: Punjab DGP

Addressing mediapersons here today, the DGP highlighted the success of the first phase of the operation, saying more than 5,000 gangsters and their associates had been arrested since January 20.

Nearly 12,000 personnel, comprising 2,000 teams, would be deployed under the second phase, which comes on the back of the killing of an alleged shooter by the Goldy Brar gang outside the Mohali court on January 28 and of AAP leader Lucky Oberoi in Jalandhar on February 6.

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, in his address at the passing out ceremony of Border Security Force constables in Hoshiarpur on Saturday, had claimed that criminals were striking “without the fear of law”. Congress MP and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi and BJP state president Sunil Jakhar, too, had flagged “lawlessness” in the state.

The DGP, however, noted that while such cases dominated the headlines, the state’s actual crime rate per lakh population remained significantly below the national average. “The national average of crime is 450 per lakh population, while Punjab’s average is 227 per lakh. The heinous crime average is 31.2 nationally, while in Punjab it is 21,” he asserted.

He said the Punjab Police had made extradition/deportation requests for 38 gangsters operating from different countries.

“We have sought action through the Centre under the laid down procedure,” he said, adding that the 38 gangsters were part of the list of 61 who had been orchestrating crime in Punjab from foreign lands. The police were in the process of acting against the rest.

“We will arrest wanted gangsters from any corner of the country,” the DGP said after chairing a meeting of senior police officials and district police.

On the first phase of the operation — dubbed ‘Gangster te war’ (war against gangsters — DGP Yadav said 5,290 individuals, including gangsters and criminals, were arrested and 128 arms recovered from their possession during 17,603 raids across the state.

Preventive action was initiated against 2,973 persons, while 5,413 individuals were verified and released after questioning, he said, adding that 344 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested.

“The police have acted against only those who found involved in crime with gangsters. There is no truth is social media posts accusing police of illegal arrests and social media posts,” the DGP said.

The police also proceeded against nearly 10,000 social media URLs for spreading fear and misinformation. Nearly 350 FIRs had been lodged and 3,500 arms licences suspended, while action against another 3,500 arms licences was pending, the DGP said.

On wanted gangster Goldy Brar openly threatening policemen and their families, the DGP said: “Every criminal would be treated like one. No one can be glorified. We have already identified the main accused behind the murder of Lucky Oberoi.”

The DGP said 92 shooting incidents had been reported in the state since last year, of which 84 had been solved.

On “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh”, the DGP said 45,000 persons had been arrested since the launch of the operation last year. “This includes 65 hawala operators and 3,000 big fish. Heroin recovery stood at 2,150 kg so far,” he added.