The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday conducted a third round of crackdown against organised criminal syndicates and networks besides top gangsters at 13 locations in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh and Delhi-NCR.
The districts covered in the search operation are Fazilka, Taran Taran, Ludhiana, Sangrur and Mohali districts of Punjab, Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana, Sikar district of Rajasthan and Outer North District of Delhi/ NCR to dismantle and disrupt the emerging nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers/traffickers based in India and abroad in connection with two cases registered in August.
“This 3rd round of raids and searches is part of the NIA crackdown against organised criminal syndicates and networks, top gangsters, their criminal and business associates based in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan and arms suppliers based in Rajasthan and Delhi,” the NIA said in a statement. Searches were conducted at the houses/premises of Kaushal Chaudhary of Gurugram (Haryana), Vishal Maan of Prahalpur (Delhi), Binny Gurjar of Sangroor (Punjab), Ravi Rajgarh of Ludhiana (Punjab) and their associates, it said.
During the searches, incriminating materials, including various types of contraband, have been seized, along with ammunition. Investigations will continue to dismantle such terror networks as well as their funding and support infrastructure, it further said. Preliminary investigations have revealed that these gangs were carrying out targeted killings and were also raising funds to carry out such criminal activities through smuggling of drugs and weapons.
The recent sensational crimes and extortion calls by criminal syndicates and gangsters to businessmen, professionals, including doctors, had created a widespread scare among the people.
These gangs were using cyber-space to publicise these crimes to create terror among the public at large, according to the NIA FIRs.
“Investigations have also revealed that such criminal acts were not isolated local incidents but there was a deep rooted conspiracy amongst terrorists, gangsters and drug smuggling cartels and networks, which were operating from both within and outside the country,” the agency said in its statement.
Most of these conspiracies were being hatched from inside jails of different States and were being executed by an organized network of operatives based abroad.
Many gang leaders and members had fled from India and were operating from foreign countries, including Pakistan, Canada, Malaysia and Australia, it added.
