The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has established a collaborative framework with the police forces of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh to combat the growing menace of organised crime and gangster syndicates in northern India. This initiative aims to enhance real-time intelligence exchange and coordinated action to dismantle these criminal networks.
In a significant move to tackle the rising threat of organised crime and gangster activities in northern India, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has formed a strategic alliance with the police forces of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh. This initiative, announced on Friday, aims to disrupt the growing influence of criminal syndicates operating across the region.
The NIA Director General, Dinkar Gupta, chaired a high-level meeting in Panchkula, Haryana, where leaders from the three states’ police forces discussed critical strategies to curb the criminal activities and growing terror syndicate ecosystem. The focus was on real-time intelligence sharing and coordinated actions to tackle organised crime and dismantle criminal-gangster networks, particularly those with cross-border linkages.
Key Decisions Made: The collaboration aims to create a ‘Joint Listing Committee’ consisting of representatives from the NIA, Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh police forces. This committee will work towards mapping and identifying the entire network of criminal syndicates active across the northern states and union territories. Additionally, the authorities have agreed to hold monthly meetings to ensure continuous coordination and effective measures to address the challenges posed by these criminal networks.
Discussions also centred on the increasing activities of criminal syndicates operating from jails, with a focus on the techniques these groups use to maintain their operations. The NIA has been probing three significant cases related to such criminal-terror syndicates, and the collaborative effort is expected to enhance the pace of these investigations.
Importance of Coordinated Effort: The NIA and the regional police forces acknowledged the critical need for cooperation in tackling these syndicates, especially considering their interstate links. The law enforcement agencies discussed structural and operational interventions required to dismantle the networks effectively. Fast-tracking trials for criminals was highlighted as a crucial step in ensuring swift justice, while a witness protection strategy was also part of the discussions.
Haryana DGP P K Agrawal and Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav emphasized the importance of international collaboration, particularly for the extradition of active criminal leaders residing abroad. DGP Praveer Ranjan of Chandigarh stressed the necessity of maintaining strong interstate communication to ensure timely and effective operations.
Looking Ahead: This meeting marks a significant step towards a more coordinated approach in dealing with organised crime. The NIA, in collaboration with Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh police, aims to disrupt the activities of these criminal syndicates and restore law and order in the northern region. The creation of structured frameworks for intelligence sharing and operational collaboration is expected to yield results in the coming months, significantly curbing the rise of gang-related violence and criminal activities.