Will Punjab's 72-hour operation successfully capture wanted criminals?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Chandigarh, Feb 8 (NationPress) Punjab's Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav announced the commencement of a 72-hour operation named Operation Prahaar – 2 aimed at apprehending wanted criminals.
During a media briefing, DGP Yadav, along with Special DGP Arpit Shukla, ADGP of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force Nilabh Kishore, and Intelligence chief Sukhchain Singh Gill, revealed that the previous phase of Operation Prahaar led to the arrest of 3,256 individuals and the recovery of 69 weapons within just 72 hours.
He stated that Operation Prahaar-2 will kick off on Monday and conclude on Wednesday, with senior officers assigned to oversee the initiative effectively.
In a report on the 20-day “Gangstran Te Vaar” campaign, the DGP mentioned that police teams apprehended 5,290 individuals, including gangsters, and recovered 128 weapons after conducting 17,603 raids statewide.
Preventive measures have been taken against 2,973 individuals, while 5,413 others were verified and released after interrogation. Additionally, 344 proclaimed offenders were captured.
Addressing rumors, he emphasized that this is a lawful operation targeting only those wanted for crimes.
To bolster visible police presence and enhance the crime response framework across Punjab, the DGP announced that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding operational readiness has been issued.
Commissioners of Police have been instructed to personally visit key crime scenes to supervise investigations and ensure the apprehension of serious offenders.
As part of confidence-building measures, district chiefs have been directed to conduct field visits in areas with high foot traffic and identified hotspots.
DGP Yadav stated that the police force is being significantly strengthened by reallocating personnel from non-essential duties to enhance the effectiveness of high-tech checkpoints and city sealing points. Following reports of vehicles operating without registration numbers, operational guidelines have been issued to intensify vehicle checks, particularly for two-wheelers lacking license plates.