Panjab Extradites Gangsters; Grenade Attack Linked to 1986 Police Firing

The Panjab Police’s Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) has extradited five gangsters from four countries (UAE, Azerbaijan, Hong Kong, and Philippines). During a press conference in Chandigarh, AGTF-Assistant Inspector Generals Gurmeet Chauhan and Sandeep Goel stated that the AGTF, in collaboration with central agencies and police from various states, had also conducted inter-state operations, leading to the arrest of 37 gangsters across India. Goel added that the AGTF’s social media analysis unit has identified multiple accounts created using notorious gangsters’ names to upload seditious content, as part of their broader efforts to curb criminal activity. At the same time, Panjab has seen a significant decline in cases under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) this year, with only five cases recorded until 31 Aug, compared to 14 in 2023 and 25 in 2022. Most of those arrested are Sikhs alleged to be involved in terrorist activities. Meanwhile, an explosion rocked a house in Chandigarh’s Sector 10. It is suspected to be a targeted attack with police suspecting the target was retired Superintendent of Police Jaskirat Singh Chahal, who lived on the first floor of the house until two years ago. Chahal has been on the radar of militants since 1986, when four Sikh youths were killed in the Nakodar police firing incident during his tenure as Station House Officer (SDW Vol 2 Issue 10, Story 5). Two people have been arrested. Police say, one of them, Rohan Masih has confessed that US-based gangster Harpreet Singh, alias Happy Passia enticed him to carry out the attack.