Op Prahar: Extradition proceedings under way against 38 foreign-based gangsters, says Punjab DGP

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav on Sunday announced the launch of Phase 2 of Operation Prahar from February 9, Monday, with the aim of freeing Punjab from gangsters.

The Punjab Police has sought the extradition or deportation of 38 gangsters operating from different countries. “We have sought action against them through the Central Government under the laid-down procedure,” the DGP said.

These 38 are part of a list of 61 gangsters who were orchestrating crimes in Punjab from abroad, with documentation against the remaining gangsters still in preparation.

“We will arrest wanted gangsters from any corner of the country, and action will be taken only against those wanted in criminal cases,” DGP Yadav announced at a press conference after chairing a high-level meeting of senior police officials and district police officers.

Addressing criticism of the police for failing to prevent recent murders in Mohali and Jalandhar, the DGP said the main accused have been identified and would be arrested soon.

Detailing the success of Phase 1 of Operation Prahar, dubbed “Gangster te War” (War against gangsters), which was launched on January 20, DGP Yadav said that 5,290 associates of gangsters have been arrested while another 2,973 have been placed under preventive detention. In total, police verified 13,776 suspects during the operation.

“Not all those verified have been arrested or detained. Punjab Police has acted only against those found involved in crimes with gangsters. There is no truth to social media posts alleging illegal arrests,” the DGP clarified.

He added that action has also been taken against social media accounts and websites spreading threats and fear in Punjab, with over 10,000 URLs targeted, nearly 350 FIRs lodged, and 3,500 arms licences suspended, while action against another 3,500 licences is pending.

Responding to threats from wanted gangster Goldy Brar, who had openly threatened police officers and their families, DGP Yadav stated, “Every criminal will be treated as a criminal. No one can be glorified. We have already identified the main accused in the Jalandhar murder of Lucky Oberoi.”

The DGP emphasised that Punjab’s crime rate is lower than the national average. “The national crime rate is 450 per lakh, while Punjab’s average is 227 per lakh population. The average for heinous crimes is 31.2 nationally, while in Punjab it is 21,” he said.

Regarding the Hoshiarpur murder of an elderly woman, DGP Yadav said it was a case of personal motive, stressing, “Crime has sociological reasons. Personal motive crimes cannot be entirely prevented.”

Since last year, 92 shooting incidents in Punjab, mostly by gangsters, have been recorded, of which 84 have been solved.

On the ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ campaign against drugs, he said that since its launch last year, 45,000 people have been arrested, including 65 hawala operators and 3,000 major criminals, with a total heroin recovery of 2,150 kg to date.