Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday said his government adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards gangsters, extortionists, drug traffickers and organised criminal networks, irrespective of how powerful or well-connected they may claim to be.He further asserted that law and order is fully maintained in Punjab and there is no haven for criminals.Felicitating the Punjab Police team led by Superintendent of Police, Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF), Bikramjit Singh Brar, for securing the extradition of notorious fugitive criminal Amritpal Singh alias Amrit Dalam from the Republic of Moldova, the chief minister said the government is fully committed to Punjab’s peace and security.Dalam was detained by the Moldovan authorities on February 24 while trying to cross the Otaci state border to Ukraine. Subsequently, the Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC) of the Punjab Police began an extradition process to bring him to India.Mann highlighted that 1,234 gangster modules have been busted and 10 fugitives deported from abroad, while 60,582 FIRs have been registered against drug traffickers and properties worth Rs 366 crore seized.He highlighted that the Punjab Police is equipped with high-tech anti-drone systems and Village Defence Committees comprising 1.5 lakh people have been formed, warning that no person or group attempting to disturb Punjab’s peace will be spared.Felicitating the police officers for their exemplary achievement, Mann said, “The successful extradition sends an unequivocal message to gangsters, criminals and their handlers operating from foreign soil that Punjab Police will chase them across borders and bring them back to face the law.”Gangsters cannot find a haven for themselves anymore. Whether they are hiding in Punjab, another part of India or thousands of kilometres away in Europe, the Punjab Police will track them down. They may change their locations, passports and identities, but they cannot escape the law forever, the chief minister said.Extradition of Amrit Dalam is a major achievement in Punjab’s relentless campaign against organised crime and demonstrates the effectiveness of the state government’s ‘Gangstran Te Vaar’ campaign, Mann stated.“Amrit Dalam was a key operative of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Gang and was wanted in several serious criminal cases, including murder, attempt to murder, offences under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Arms Act and narcotic offence,” he added.Mann appreciated the coordinated efforts of the GTF, Overseas Fugitive Tracking and Extradition Cell (OFTEC), Punjab Police and central agencies, saying that close inter-agency coordination has emerged as a powerful weapon in dismantling transnational criminal networks.During its recent visit to Moldova, the Punjab Police team received a token of appreciation from the government of the Republic of Moldova in recognition of the close coordination and cooperation that facilitated the first-ever extradition of a fugitive criminal from Moldova to India.
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Describing the gesture as a matter of pride for Punjab, Mann said, “This recognition reflects the mutual trust, respect and growing law-enforcement cooperation between India and Moldova. This is not merely an award or a token. It is recognition of the professional capabilities of Punjab Police and the trust that international law-enforcement agencies are placing in our officers.”Mann expressed pride in how the Punjab Police have demonstrated professionalism and determination, even when criminals attempt to create an international shield around themselves.The successful extradition further illustrates that the Punjab Police will continue to pursue organised criminals beyond geographical boundaries, ensuring that those wanted for serious crimes are brought back to face justice, the chief minister stated.
