NIA Teams Up With Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh Police To Crack Down On Gangsters

According to the spokesperson, it was also decided to organise monthly meetings of all stakeholders to address the issue of organised crime and criminals in these regions.

Representational Image.

Source : PTI

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) announced on Friday the creation of a collaborative structured framework with the Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh police for real-time intelligence exchange and coordinated action against the gang ecosystem in the northern area, news agency PTI reported. On Friday, NIA Director General (DG) Dinkar Gupta presided over a meeting of the leaders of the three police forces, emphasising the need of coordinated work in combating organised crime.

Gupta believes that increased collaboration and information sharing among the NIA, Punjab, Chandigarh, and Haryana police will successfully handle the rising danger presented by these criminal syndicates, especially in the northern area.

It was also decided to form a 'Joint Listing Committee' comprised of representatives from the NIA and the three police forces to list and map the entire network of the various criminal syndicates active in the northern states and union territories, according to a statement from the federal agency's official spokesperson.

National Investigation Agency, in collaboration with the police forces of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, today announced the establishment of a collective institutionalised mechanism for real-time as well as regular information sharing and coordinated action and operations… pic.twitter.com/GebCQECX3b

— ANI (@ANI) June 30, 2023

According to the spokesperson, it was also decided to organise monthly meetings of all stakeholders to address the issue of organised crime and criminals in these regions.

"The meeting discussed the activities of leaders and members of organized criminal syndicates and groups operating in the northern states, and also the ongoing investigations in the various criminal cases connected with them," the statement was quoted by ANI in its report.

These decisions were made during a high-level interstate coordination conference in Panchkula, Haryana, presided over by NIA Director General Dinkar Gupta, PTI reported.

According to the statement, discussions took place during the conference about the actions of leaders and members of organised crime syndicates and organisations operating in the northern states, as well as current investigations in different criminal cases related to them. 

Interventions needed at the structural and operational levels to deconstruct the terror syndicate ecosystem were thoroughly reviewed, and it was determined to develop an institutionalised process for timely exchange of actionable insights with all stakeholders, according to the statement.

The northern states are concerned about the rising connection between criminals and gangsters, with their interstate links and disputes.

According to the statement, the foot soldiers, recruiters, and harborers of these criminal-gangster syndicates are dispersed throughout north Indian states and require a coordinated and synergistic effort by police from different states to deal with them successfully.

The NIA, which is probing three such cases against criminal-terror syndicates, revealed its findings and observations on the technique used by the syndicates working from jails during the conference.

During the discussion, participants emphasised the importance of ensuring fast-track trials for criminals, believing that it would be an important instrument in combating the problem. The conference also included discussions of a witness protection strategy, according to the statement.

This was the NIA chief's second such gathering to address the threat of organised criminal-terror syndicates. Gupta has convened these sessions in order to deal with such syndicates collaboratively by exchanging findings and inputs among the different police agencies and units.

Haryana DGP P K Agrawal emphasised the importance of taking prompt and decisive action to break the networks of these criminal syndicates, interrupt their activities, and guarantee justice.

He informed the attendees that the Haryana Police is completely committed to helping and actively engaging in the coordinated efforts to tackle organised crime.

Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav underlined the importance of international interaction and collaboration with foreign law enforcement authorities in order to extradite and deport active leaders and members residing overseas.

As crime syndicates operate throughout the country, including Chandigarh, DGP Praveer Ranjan emphasised the importance of strong interstate communication and cooperative operations between police units from impacted states.

During the meeting, representatives from various agencies presented their findings and insights into ongoing investigations, with a focus on devising strategies to disrupt the activities of organised criminal syndicates, strengthen intelligence sharing mechanisms, and coordinate efforts to apprehend individuals involved in these unlawful activities, according to an NIA spokesperson. 

(With Inputs From Agencies)