Chandigarh: Punjab Police has brought back 17 gangsters from various countries over the past six months, Cabinet minister Harpal Singh Cheema said on Monday, claiming that the Bhagwant Mann government had sent a clear message that no criminal could escape the law by fleeing abroad.
Addressing a press conference, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader said the extraditions and deportations were part of the “Gangsters te Vaar” campaign. Between January 20 and November 7, police conducted 1,61,266 raids and arrested around 2,162 proclaimed offenders, he said.
“Punjab Police has succeeded in bringing back several gangsters to India from different countries,” Cheema said.
Those brought back include Ramanjit Singh Romi from Hong Kong, Amrit Singh from the Maldives, Prabhpreet Singh from Germany, Parminder Singh Pindi from the UAE, Sajjan Mahesh and Sukhdev Kumar Manish Bedi from Indonesia, Ajay Singh, Pawandeep Singh and Jaspreet Singh from Malaysia, and Karambeer Singh Deol from Canada.
“These operations demonstrate the determination and capabilities of our police force in pursuing criminals beyond geographical boundaries,” he said.
Cheema targets previous governments
Cheema alleged that gangsters were “created and nurtured during the Akali-BJP regime and allowed to flourish under the Congress government”. He said the present government was committed to freeing Punjab from their influence.
He added that the government would build strong cases against those brought back to India.
“Our government will present solid evidence against these criminals in court and ensure that they receive appropriate punishment,” Cheema said.
“Our objective is clear: to make Punjab a gangster-free state.”
