US based NAPA expresses concern over rising crime in Punjab
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
US Based North American Punjabi Association (NAPA) today raised serious concerns over the increasing number of incidents of gang wars and the recovery of sophisticated weapons from various gangsters just ahead of the election season. Satnam Singh Chahal, executive director, North American Punjabi Association (NAPA), said the arrest of gangsters in the past had led to the seizure of sophisticated weapons from them which was causing a serious concern for the Diaspora.
Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and alarming rise in organised crime in Punjab, he said the state was on the brink of Jungle Raj.“It is very unfortunate that only few gangsters were convicted out of several who were arrested between 1996 and 2022.Several gangsters managed to escape from police custody between January 2015 till date and some have jumped bail,” said Chahal.
He said organized crime was not only getting institutionalized but also glamorized in Punjab. And that is the worst thing that can happen to a state. The Punjabi Diaspora is feeling insecure as criminal gangs have lost the fear of the law. He referred to the kidnapping and extortion crimes where people had to pay a huge ransom
The Punjabi Diaspora has a fear in mind that gangsters are goons of the high and mighty. Many among them may be on the payrolls of the liquor or sand mafia. Some work for illegal moneylenders or as recovery agents for banks and finance companies.
Chahal further said that crimes of robberies and extortions are increasing day by day and there seems to be no end to these crimes. Criminals also help in land grabbing. They rob people and kidnap children for ransom.
Chahal disclosed that there would be less people from the Diaspora who are thinking of visiting Punjab.
US based NAPA expresses concern over rising crime in Punjab. This was the main reason that this time Punjabi Diaspora participated in less numbers in Punjab Assembly elections due to the fear of increasing number of criminal gangs in the state.
July 3,2022
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