Chandigarh, Jan 20: Punjab Police initiated a massive statewide enforcement drive titled ‘Operation Prahar’ on Tuesday to dismantle the infrastructure supporting 60 overseas gangsters and their local associates. The operation involves 12,000 police personnel carrying out coordinated raids on 600 residential properties and numerous suspected hideouts linked to criminal elements.
Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav announced that the crackdown follows specific directives from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to eradicate organized crime. Law enforcement has already taken 1,200 gangster associates into custody as part of this broader strategy to disrupt criminal ecosystems.
“Our objective is to make Punjab free of gangster activities by dismantling their entire network,” DGP Yadav said. He noted that the operation focuses on cutting off financial trails and warned that the government maintains zero tolerance for anyone aiding or abetting these individuals.
The state has established a new Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) to bring back criminals hiding in other countries. Under the leadership of IG Counter-Intelligence Ashish Choudhary, the cell is currently processing 21 Red Corner Notices.
DGP Yadav cautioned that those operating from abroad remain within the reach of the law through cooperation with the central government. He also addressed internal discipline within the force, stating that the same legal standards would apply to complicit officers.
“Any police official found assisting gangsters will be treated as a gangster themselves,” the DGP said.
