Haryana STF's Major Crackdown: 145 Hardcore Criminals Apprehended in Two Months
The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana has executed a significant operation, resulting in the arrest of 145 hardcore criminals over the last two months. This extensive crackdown targeted individuals involved in organized crime, with 71 members from various gangs affiliated to notorious figures such as Rohit Godara, Lawrence Bishnoi, Himanshu Bhau, and others being taken into custody.
Key Arrests and Rewards
STF chief B Satheesh Balan highlighted that among those arrested, 22 criminals had cash rewards on their heads in different states, underscoring the severity of their offenses. The STF, Haryana, remains steadfast in its commitment to combating organised crime and maintaining public order across the state, stated Balan. He emphasized that through a focused and intelligence-driven approach, the STF continues to take decisive action against criminal gangs, habitual offenders, and elements involved in heinous and organized crimes.
International Operations and Deportations
The arrests were not limited to domestic incidents; they also involved exchanges of fire and the deportation of gangsters from abroad. In 2026 so far, four gangsters have been deported from various countries: Ankit Shokeen from Thailand, Aman Bhainswal from the USA, Somveer alias Mota from the USA, and Shilu Dahar from Moscow. This demonstrates the STF's efforts to tackle cross-border criminal activities.
Recovery of Arms and Explosives
During the operations, the STF recovered significant caches of arms, including 22 pistols, 9 country-made pistols, 2 magazines, and 65 cartridges from January to February 2026. In a particularly alarming case, explosives were found inside a car in the Baldev Nagar police station area in Ambala in January. An explosive device had been planted in a Maruti 800 car parked inside the station, intended to carry out a blast at the behest of Pakistani gangster-terrorist Shehzad Bhatti and Babbar Khalsa. Fortunately, the plan was foiled, leading to the arrest of seven accused persons.
Joint Operations and Specific Cases
The STF collaborated with other law enforcement agencies in several instances. In a joint operation with the Mumbai Police, four accused persons were arrested for firing at filmmaker Rohit Shetty's house on the directions of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. These individuals were handed over to the anti-extortion cell of the Mumbai Police.
Additionally, STF Karnal arrested four members of the Rohit Godara-Goldy Brar gang in January, recovering foreign-made pistols linked to murder and extortion conspiracies in India and the USA. A bulletproof SUV (Endeavour) was also seized in this operation.
Escapes and Apprehensions
In February, two Pakistani nationals escaped from a correction home in Jammu's R S Pura after shooting two police personnel. They were later apprehended by the STF Ambala at Ambala Cantt railway station and handed over to the Jammu police.
Meanwhile, STF Gurugram arrested three accused persons in relation to a firing incident at a showroom on Golf Course road in Gurugram in February, for which gangster Deepak Nandal had claimed responsibility. Two country-made pistols along with magazines and seven live cartridges were recovered from their possession.
Breakdown of Arrests and Statistics
The crackdown involved arrests from multiple gangs, as detailed below:
- Rohit Godara Gang: 17 members arrested
- Lawrence Bishnoi Gang: 15 members arrested
- Himanshu Bhau Gang: 3 members arrested
- Kaushal Chaudhary Gang: 5 members arrested
- Noni Rana Gang: 2 members arrested
- Kapil Nandu Gang: 5 members arrested
- Deepak Nandal Gang: 4 members arrested
- Others: 20 members arrested
In terms of exchange of fire incidents, there were 4 occurrences from January to February 2026, resulting in 5 criminals being injured.
Conclusion and Commitment
Through sustained operations, inter-agency coordination, and strategic enforcement measures, STF Haryana has achieved significant breakthroughs in dismantling gang networks and neutralizing threats posed by both local and foreign-based criminals. These efforts reflect the organisation's resolve to ensure the safety and security of citizens and to uphold the rule of law, concluded Balan. The STF's actions underscore a robust approach to maintaining public order and combating organized crime in the region.
