Punjab police conduct statewide searches on persons linked with gangster Landa

Punjab Police has launched massive raids on suspected hideouts of persons linked with gangster-turned-terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, an official said on Sunday.

The simultaneous raids were conducted at the residential and other premises linked to Lakhbir Landa of Harike village of Tarn Taran district, in all the districts of Punjab in the ongoing cases.

The operation was aimed at disrupting the nexus between terrorists, gangsters and drug smugglers based in India and abroad, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said.

He said 334 persons linked with Landa were raided in a day-long operation on Sunday by 142 parties of Punjab Police involving about 800 police personnel.

In district Tarn Taran alone 65 Police parties raided premises of 171 persons linked with Lakhbir landa, he said.

"Today's searches were planned after the questioning of several persons in the recently busted modules backed by Lakhbir Landa, besides, to infuse fear among the anti-social elements and instil a sense of safety and security among the common people," he said, according to a Punjab police statement.

Sharing more details, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla said several persons have been detained for further verification and incriminating material has been seized from their possession, which is being further examined.

He said the data collected during the search operation is being examined further.

As per the statement, Canada-based gangster turned terrorist Lakhbir Singh alias Landa, involved in various criminal activities in Punjab and abroad, is the most wanted criminal by the Punjab Police.

He is a Category-A gangster who after committing various crimes fled to Canada in 2017. From Canada, he runs a network of gangsters involved in extortion, killings and other terror crimes in Punjab.

He has been indulging in these crimes in association with his other associates based in different countries.

He is a close associate of Harwinder Singh alias Rinda based in Pakistan and actively supported by ISI of Pakistan, said the statement.

Two weeks ago, Punjab Police had conducted raids at suspected hideouts of those linked with gangster-turned-terrorist Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh Dalla.