Punjab: Police Raid Over 1400 Locations Linked To Aides Of Gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar

The Punjab Police conducted a special cordon-and-search operation at the alleged hideouts of gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar.

(Representational Image)

Source : PTI

The Punjab Police started a special cordon-and-search operation on Friday targeting the alleged hideouts of people associated with gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar, news agency PTI reported.

Simultaneous raids were carried out in all areas on homes and other properties associated with these individuals, the report said.

The operation attempted to break the link between terrorists, gangsters, and drug smugglers based in India and overseas, according to the Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav, as stated in the report. 

During the daylong operation, at least 200 police teams and about 2,000 personnel raided more than 1,490 suspected hideouts of anti-social elements related to Bishnoi and Canada-based Brar, according to the report. 

The DGP stated that the operation was prepared following the interrogation of numerous people with ties to the recently deactivated modules, which were backed by Bishnoi and Brar, the report read. 

According to Arpit Shukla, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order), multiple people have been apprehended and incriminating material has been confiscated from their possession, as reported by PTI.

According to an official statement, the ADGP conducted thorough searches at the homes and other locations associated with these people and seized data stored in electronic devices, which will be transferred for forensic examination, the report said. 

According to the report, he stated that authorities also verified weapons licences and questioned persons about ammunition sources, in addition to acquiring travel records of their family members in foreign countries, financial transactions are taken out overseas, and property details.

Since March 2022, the Punjab Police have broken 25 terror cells, arrested 160 terrorists or radicals, and recovered 30 sophisticated rifles, 200 revolvers and pistols, and 24 drones, according to the statement.

"As far as gangsters are concerned, the Punjab Police has succeeded in busting 140 gangster/criminal modules with the arrest of 555 gangsters/criminals and by neutralising two, and recovered 510 weapons and 129 vehicles used in criminal activities from their possession in the same period," the statement added. 

(With Inputs From PTI)