Punjab gaining ‘gangsters’ tag: HC pulls up Punjab Police in Rana Balachauria murder case
PTC Web Desk: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday sharply criticised the Punjab Police during a hearing related to the Rana Balachauria murder case in Mohali, observing that the state is increasingly being perceived as a “state of gangsters.”
Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav appeared before the High Court during the proceedings. He was accompanied by the Special DGP (Law and Order), SSP Mohali, DIG Ropar Range and the chief of the Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF).
Informing the court about steps taken to curb organised crime, the DGP said the Punjab Police had launched “Operation Prahar,” under which around 3,000 people have been arrested so far. However, the High Court questioned why such an operation was not initiated two to three years earlier. The bench remarked that large-scale actions often begin only after court directions and cautioned the police to ensure that no innocent person is detained during the operation.
Making strong observations, the court said that it was a common public perception that Punjab has turned into a “state of gangsters.” The bench noted that murders are taking place regularly, with attackers striking in crowded areas and fleeing with ease, while police struggle to apprehend them.
When the DGP argued that Punjab’s crime rate was lower compared to other states, the court disagreed, stating that Punjab’s status as a border state makes such comparisons inappropriate. The bench further sought details on efforts to track ransom money, asking where the extorted funds were going and through which channels.
The court also raised concerns over the flow of hundreds of crores of rupees daily through criminal networks and said the Enforcement Directorate should also examine the issue. It questioned why accountability often stops at lower-ranking constables and why action is rarely taken at the SSP level. The SSP Mohali was specifically asked why it took 25 days to arrest the gangsters involved in the murder, with the court remarking that such a delay was excessive.
During the hearing, the DGP mentioned that links to Pakistan had emerged in several criminal incidents. The court directed authorities to take strict action against songs and online content that glorify gangsters and weapons.
The bench further questioned the deployment of Punjab Police personnel, noting that while the force has around 88,000 personnel, a large number are assigned to VVIP duties. It observed that public events are provided minimal security, whereas political programmes often have deployments exceeding 200 personnel.
The High Court also ordered the removal of social media videos that promote gangsters and directed authorities to block related URLs.
The DGP was instructed to file a fresh affidavit within a week, detailing how many incidents had shooters captured on CCTV, mobile phones or other cameras, the number of arrests made in such cases, the trail of money collected through threat calls, and plans to install CCTV cameras in crowded areas along with the required budget.
Meanwhile, the court was informed of another shocking incident that occurred during the hearing itself — a man was shot dead near the SSP Mohali office. Taking serious note, the court remarked that if the SSP’s office itself is not secure, maintaining law and order would be extremely difficult. The DGP was directed to submit a report on the incident and fix responsibility.
The matter will be heard next on February 5.
- PTC NEWS
