Chandigarh, February 8 – Properties acquired through extortion by foreign-based gangsters in Punjab are under investigation, said a top police official, as he announced the launch of a 72-hour statewide operation, "Operation Prahaar-2," starting Monday.
Police Director General Gaurav Yadav also said that a process has begun to extradite 38 out of 61 foreign-based gangsters.
"Our aim is to make Punjab safe and secure by ensuring the security of ordinary citizens," he told reporters on Sunday.
When asked if the police would investigate properties acquired through extortion by foreign-based gangsters, Yadav said such properties are already under investigation.
"Legal procedures will be followed in targeting their properties," he said.
As part of the ongoing "Yudh Nashian Virudh" (Anti-Drug Campaign) in the state, properties belonging to drug smugglers are being seized. In addition, assets of drug smugglers are being frozen under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Yadav said that 12,000 personnel, comprising 2,000 teams, will be deployed in this operation.
"Our goal is to make Punjab crime- and gangster-free. There will be zero tolerance for crime," Yadav said.
On January 20, the Punjab Police launched "Operation Prahaar," a statewide operation to dismantle organized crime.
Yadav said that starting Monday, "Operation Prahaar-2" will continue until Wednesday, and senior officers from the Punjab Police Headquarters will supervise the operation.
In response to threats made by gangster Goldy Brar to police officials' families, Yadav said he does not want to glorify any criminal. "Every criminal will be treated as a criminal. We do not want to glorify anyone," he said.
Responding to a question about the main accused in the murder of AAP leader Lucky Oberoi in Jalandhar, Yadav said that one arrest was made within 24 hours of the incident. The main accused has been identified, and efforts are underway to apprehend him, he said.
Yadav also said that a process has started to extradite 38 out of 61 foreign-based gangsters, and the police were in contact with the Centre on this matter.
The police have set up an Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell, headed by DIG Counter Intelligence Ashish Choudhary, to expedite the extradition of gangsters operating from different countries.
Regarding action against social media posts threatening violence, Yadav said that over 10,000 URLs have been deleted, and 328 FIRs have been registered for displaying weapons and glorifying weapons, while the licenses of 3,500 weapons have been cancelled.
Sharing the outcomes of Operation Prahaar, DGP Yadav said that 5,290 individuals, including gangsters and criminals associated with them, were arrested, and 128 weapons were recovered from their possession during 17,603 raids across the state.
In addition, preventive action has been taken against 2,973 individuals, and 5,413 individuals have been verified and released after questioning, he added, further stating that 344 proclaimed offenders (POs) were also arrested.
He clarified that this is a lawful operation, and the police will only arrest individuals who are wanted in connection with a crime.
To ensure effective supervision across police districts, DGP, additional DGP, inspector general of police, and deputy inspector general-rank officers have been allocated police districts to oversee the operation, with the directive that accountability will be fixed for any lapses found, he added.
To enhance police presence and strengthen the crime response mechanism across the state, DGP Yadav said that Standard Operating Procedure on operational preparedness have also been issued to all the CPs/SSPs and range IGPs/DIGs.
He said that commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police have been directed to personally visit all important crime scenes to supervise investigations and ensure the tracing of heinous offences.
As part of the confidence-building measures, all the district chiefs have been directed to personally conduct field visits in high footfall and hotspot areas, he added.
The state's police force is being significantly augmented by auditing and mobilizing force deployment from non-core duties to strengthen round-the-clock high-tech check points and city sealing points.
Following reports that many vehicles are plying without numbers, which are being used in crimes, the operational directions have also been issued to intensify the checking of vehicles, especially two-wheelers, moving without number plates, he said.
"We will also fix the responsibility of senior officers...they will go into fields and will be given sufficient time. Performance of senior officers will be evaluated," he said.
Stressing on the need to make maximum use of wireless sets and walkie-talkies, Yadav said that it shall be the responsibility of the concerned CP/SSP/Range IGP/DIGs to put in place proper police response immediately after the incident is reported.
"To ensure rapid response after any crime incident is reported, a comprehensive sealing plan must be immediately implemented to intercept perpetrators through intensive checking at escape routes and exit points," he said.
On the anti-drug drive, which was launched in March 2005, Yadav said that the police registered 33,779 FIRs and made 48,167 arrests, resulting in recovery of 2,149 kg heroin, 649 kg opium, 28,527 kg poppy husk, 48.31 lakh intoxicant pills/capsules and Rs 15.91 crore cash from their possession.
