Chandigarh: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) teams, supported by Punjab Police, carried out raids at 58 locations across Punjab on Wednesday to dismantle a network involved in terror-smuggling activities.
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, stated that the joint operation of NIA and Punjab Police led to raids at 58 locations in various districts. Additionally, the state police conducted extensive searches at 143 hideouts belonging to gangsters and anti-social elements, leading to the detention of several individuals for further verification.
The DGP further mentioned that a total of 125 police teams, comprising 1,200 police personnel, were involved in the cordon and search operation (CASO) conducted at various places throughout the state. Multiple persons were detained as a result.
The targets of the raids were suspected individuals involved in drug smuggling, working for incarcerated gangsters, and terror suspects such as Lawrence Bishnoi. Members of the Bambiha gang and another gang associated with Pakistan-based Harvinder Singh Rinda were also among those targeted.
These raids were part of a nationwide operation conducted in Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Rajasthan, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. More than 125 locations were searched on Wednesday.
The raids took place in multiple locations, including Moga, Bathinda, Muktsar, Ferozepur, Mansa, Patiala, and some other places in Punjab.
Additionally, NIA teams, in collaboration with Haryana Police, conducted raids in Gurugram, Sirsa, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Karnal, and Kurukshetra districts in Haryana.
