Punjab to set up anti-terror squad to break nexus between militants and gangsters

Amarinder Singh has given the go-ahead for the ATS to break the nexus flourishing between militants and gangsters in the state's prisons.
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh (File | PTI)
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh (File | PTI)

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh has given the go-ahead for setting up an anti-terror squad (ATS), as part of the intelligence wing, to break the nexus flourishing between militants and gangsters in the State’s prisons.

His government, which has already cracked down on terrorists and gangsters in a big way, is also mulling over an effective law, such as the Punjab Control of Organised Criminals Act (PCOCA), to deal effectively with the terror spread by organised criminal gangs, most of which have been operating in the State for the past five to seven years, with strong political patronage.

The ATS would have the mandate to act both against terrorist/militant outfits and criminal gangs.
In addition, the Union home minister on the chief minister’s request, has tentatively agreed to provide 2 CISF companies in exchange for the same number of IRB companies from Punjab to ensure security at high-security/sensitive jails where hardcore terrorists and gangsters are lodged.

These additional companies will remain at the prisons for at least six months.

At his meeting last week with home minister Rajnath Singh, CM Amarinder Singh had raised concerns about the growing nexus between militants and gangsters, pointing out that jail staff, including superintendents/wardens, had been receiving constant threats from such elements.

This nexus had led to incidents like the Nabha jail break, Amarinder Singh observed, urging the Rajnath Singh’s intervention to secure the prisons.

The state government is also requesting the judiciary to notify trial courts in jails to avoid frequent movement of top criminal gang members, who are being targeted to settle inter-gang feuds and rivalries.

Revealing details of the police crackdown on terrorists and gangsters launched across the State on the chief minister’s directive, an official said since March 16, when the Capt Amarinder Singh government took over, as many as 16 dreaded gangsters had been arrested.

These included one of the escapees of the Nabha jail break and a gangster who had actively participated in the operation. So far, four of the six Nabha jail escapees have been arrested, with
seven of the 14 attackers and 11 conspirators also in the police net.

The police crackdowns also led to busting of two terrorist modules, leading to the arrest of four militants, the spokesperson disclosed.

CM Singh had issued strict directions to the police and intelligence agencies in the State to come down heavily on all criminal gangs. As of March 15, 2017, there were 22 organised criminal gangs operating in Punjab, with 240 gang members, of which 137 gangsters were lodged in various jails of the State, the spokesperson further revealed.

As per official data, 12 category ‘A’ gangsters, and 10 category ‘B’ gangsters, are still absconding.

These criminal gangs, many of which are patronised by political leadership, have been involved in inter-gang rivalry murders, contract killings, extortion from real estate developers, drug smugglers, bookies/satta-hawala dealers / liquor contractors, singers etc., land-grabbing, kidnapping for ransom and other serious crimes, including drug/arms smuggling.

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