Chandigarh, Feb 8:
Properties built in Punjab with extortion money by foreign-based gangsters are under the scanner, a top police officer said even as he announced the launch of 72-hour ‘Operation Prahaar-2’, a statewide drive against wanted criminals from Monday.
Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav also said a process has started for extraditing 38 out of 61 foreign-based gangsters.
“Our purpose is to make Punjab safe and secure by giving a sense of security to common people,” he told reporters here on Sunday.
Asked whether the police will launch a probe into properties built by foreign-based gangsters through extortion money, Yadav said such properties are already under the scanner.
“Following legal procedure, their properties will be targeted,” he said.
Under the ongoing anti-drug drive ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’ in the state, properties owned by drug smugglers are being demolished. Besides, illegal assets of drug smugglers are being frozen under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Speaking about the ‘Operation Prahaar-2’, Yadav said 12,000 personnel, who will be part of 2,000 teams, will be deployed under this operation.
“Our aim is to make Punjab crime- and gangster-free. There is zero tolerance for crime,” Yadav said. On January 20, the Punjab Police had launched ‘Operation Prahaar’, a statewide drive to dismantle the entire ecosystem of organised crime.
The DGP said starting Monday, the ‘Operation Prahaar-2’ will be conducted till Wednesday, and senior officers from Punjab Police Headquarters have been deputed for effective supervision of the operation.
Asked about threats to police officials’ families by gangster Goldy Brar, 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 on the main accused involved in murder of AAP leader Lucky Oberoi in Jalandhar, Yadav said within 24 hours of the incident, one arrest was made. The main accused has been identified and efforts are on to nab him, he said.
Asked about the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell set up by the police, Yadav said a process has started towards extraditing 38 out of 61 foreign-based gangsters and police were in touch with the Centre in this regard.
The police set up the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell, headed by DIG Counter Intelligence Ashish Choudhary, to expedite extradition of gangsters who are operating from different countries. (PTI) |
