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New Delhi, Nov 5 (IANS) Haryana DGP OP Singh on Wednesday launched “Operation Track Down”, a statewide police campaign aimed at nabbing notorious gunmen, habitual criminals and absconders and warned those in possession of firearms to surrender or face strict legal action.
Speaking exclusively to IANS in Panchkula, the DGP said the campaign was born out of concern that impressionable youth, inspired by films and social-media reels, were glamorising crime.
“They don’t realize the consequences of carrying guns – we need to tell them it’s not fun,” he said.
The DGP said the Special Task Force (STF) and the district police will jointly identify and target the most notorious faces.
Outlining the phased, 15-day operation, Singh said, “From each police station, the five most notorious faces will be identified, at the district level 10 such faces will be identified, while the STF will track 20.”
He said the STF has compiled a database of around 30,000 names, out of which around 1,500-2,000 persons, who have fired at least one shot, will be prioritized for action.
Singh warned that repeat offenders would be booked under organized crime provisions, which could keep them behind bars for one to two years without bail. He also said that the police would confiscate the property of convicted criminals and house them in government facilities at the state’s expense.
Appealing to the armed youth to surrender voluntarily, Singh assured security and due legal process: “If you come quietly, there will be no harm – everything will be through the legal process.”
But his message to the protesters was clear: “If a criminal shoots with both hands, the police are not wearing bangles,” he said, indicating readiness to use force if necessary.
The DGP stressed that there is no gang that can challenge the Haryana Police and described many of the people listed in the database as misguided fugitives seeking power, money or fame. He said the operation would also focus on those intimidating citizens over phone calls.
Haryana Police said the operation will be publicly updated daily, with details of arrests and seizures shared with the media.
–IANS
SAS/UK