The Ludhiana Commissionerate Police arrested 85 individuals and placed 114 others under preventive custody during a massive district-wide crackdown under 'Operation Prahar 3.0' on Friday. The operation, launched by the Punjab Police to combat gangsters and organised crime, involved 226 raids and the registration of 44 FIRs.
Operation Details and Leadership
Beginning at 4 am, a force of 400 police personnel, led by 20 gazetted officers, 25 Station House Officers (SHOs), and inspectors, executed synchronised raids across the district. Commissioner of Police (CP) Swapan Sharma stated that the teams utilised intelligence-backed tracking data to target notorious criminal hotspots and hideouts.
During the operation, one proclaimed offender was also arrested. The raids were part of a coordinated effort to dismantle criminal networks operating in Ludhiana.
Seizures and Recoveries
The search operations resulted in the recovery of substantial quantities of narcotics, illegal weapons, smuggled liquor, and vehicles. According to CP Sharma, the seized items included 141 grams of heroin, 10 grams of the synthetic drug Ice, 217 intoxicating tablets, three countrymade pistols, two cartridges, 11 boxes and 33 bottles of illicit liquor. Additionally, police seized one SUV, five motorcycles, three mobile phones, and Rs 2,027 in cash from gambling spots.
These seizures highlight the scale of illegal activities in the region and the effectiveness of the operation in disrupting supply chains of drugs and weapons.
Impact and Community Response
Operation Prahar 3.0 is part of an ongoing series of crackdowns by Punjab Police to curb organised crime. The arrests and detentions are expected to significantly reduce criminal activity in Ludhiana. Police officials have urged the public to cooperate by providing information about suspicious activities.
CP Sharma emphasised that such operations would continue until the district is free from the menace of gangsters and drug peddlers. The success of this drive underscores the commitment of law enforcement to maintaining public safety and order.
