CHANDIGARH: In yet another massive crackdown against gangster-terrorist nexus amidst the ongoing drive to make Punjab a crime-free state as per the vision of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Punjab Police on Friday launched a special cordon and search operation (CASO) at suspected hideouts of persons linked with Gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and Canada-based terrorist Goldy Brar.
The simultaneous raids were conducted at the residential and other premises linked to both the criminals in all the districts across the state. The operation was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers based in India and abroad.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said that over 1490 suspected hideouts of anti-social elements linked with Bishnoi and Goldy Brar were raided during a day-long operation carried out by at least 200 parties of Punjab Police involving about 2000 police personnel across the state.
He said that the CASO was planned after the questioning of several persons in the recently busted modules backed by Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, besides, infusing fear among the anti-social elements and instilling a sense of safety and security among the common people.
Giving more details about the Cordon and Search Operation, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Law and Order Arpit Shukla said that several persons have been detained for further verification and incriminating material has been seized from their possession, which is being further examined. During the operation, the Police teams conducted thorough searches at the houses and other premises linked with these criminals and also collected the data from Electronic devices, which will be sent for forensic examination, he added.
He said that the Police teams have also checked arms licenses and questioned people about the sourcing of ammunition, besides, gathering travel details of foreign-based family members, bank transactions from abroad, and western union and property details for further examination.
Pertinently, Punjab Police has busted 25 terror modules with the arrest of 160 terrorists/radicals after recovering 30 sophisticated Rifles, 200 Revolvers/Pistols, and 24 Drones since March 2022. As far as gangsters are concerned, Punjab police have succeeded in busting 140 gangster/criminal modules with the arrest of 555 gangsters/criminals and neutralizing two, and recovering 510 weapons and 129 vehicles used in criminal activities from their possession in the same period.