Khanna Police Expose Criminal Nexus in Major Operation Prahaar
In a significant blow to organized crime networks operating in Punjab, the Khanna police have successfully dismantled a sophisticated ring of four illegal de-addiction centers that were allegedly functioning as recruitment hubs and torture chambers for gangsters. The coordinated operation, conducted under the banner of Operation Prahaar, has brought to light a disturbing nexus between drug rehabilitation facilities and criminal enterprises in the region.
Simultaneous Raids Rescue Over 150 Vulnerable Individuals
Police officials, in collaboration with health department authorities, executed simultaneous raids at multiple locations including Ghungrali Rajputan, Gobindpura, and Rara Sahib. During these operations, law enforcement rescued more than 150 individuals who were being held captive under the guise of receiving treatment for addiction. Authorities revealed that instead of providing legitimate medical care and rehabilitation services, these unregulated facilities were systematically exploiting vulnerable people for criminal purposes.
Gangster Connection and Recruitment Tactics
The crackdown followed intensive interrogation of associates linked to notorious gangster Ravi Rajgarh. Investigations uncovered that local criminals were deliberately targeting these illegal centers to identify, radicalize, and recruit impressionable individuals as "foot soldiers" for their criminal operations. Police interrogation reports confirmed that these centers served as a primary recruitment base, supplementing traditional methods like social media outreach.
Utilizing advanced technology through the Punjab Artificial Intelligence System (PAIS) app, police identified several rescued individuals as having existing criminal records. Among those apprehended was a proclaimed offender with connections to Vicky Marado, who is wanted in a 2020 Arms Act case, further confirming the criminal links of these operations.
Horrific Conditions Described by Survivors
Rescued inmates provided harrowing accounts of their experiences inside these facilities, describing them as "living hell". Survivors reported being crammed into single rooms with up to 70 people, subjected to brutal beatings with sticks for complaining about exhaustion, and forced to perform heavy labor throughout the day without proper medical supervision.
"We were beaten up with sticks if we said we were tired," one rescued man told reporters. "There were no doctors present to provide any medical care. We received only two meals daily—one at 10am and another at 8pm—while being compelled to work under grueling conditions from morning until night."
Legal Action and Comprehensive Investigation
Khanna Senior Superintendent of Police Darpan Ahluwalia confirmed that First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against the center owners for multiple offenses including fraud, wrongful confinement, torture, and violations of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
"All rescued victims will undergo thorough medical examinations and will be transferred to legitimate government-run de-addiction centers for proper rehabilitation," Ahluwalia stated.
The police have now launched a comprehensive financial investigation and digital forensic analysis to map the entire criminal network and identify all individuals involved. Authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling the dangerous nexus between drug peddlers and organized criminal gangs operating in the Malwa region, signaling a sustained crackdown on such illicit operations.
