Trigger-happy gang wars: Rise in gun attacks blows holes in policing

Bhopal: Three back-to-back gun attack incidents reported in the past 15 days, allegedly linked to gang rivalries, have raised concerns over monitoring gaps in policing and lack of preventive measures by cops in the city.The series of incidents suggests that criminal gangs are becoming increasingly organised, emboldened, and unafraid of law enforcement. According to sources, disputes over control of gambling dens are believed to have triggered at least two of the recent attacks and many earlier ones, indicating that illegal activities continue to operate in parts of the city. The developments have also put the spotlight on possible lapses in intelligence gathering and monitoring of habitual offenders. Another major concern is the absence of significant firearm seizures in recent times, even as hardened criminals are openly using weapons to target rivals and intimidate locals. Senior police officials admitted that the trend is disturbing and relatively new for Bhopal, which has traditionally been considered relatively peaceful. Frequent gun attacks and gang rivalries were not common earlier, but recent incidents suggest that smaller gangs have grown stronger and more active. Cops also stressed the need to investigate the source of illegal firearms being used in these crimes.Around a dozen active gangs are allegedly operating across different parts of Bhopal. These gangs are involved in a range of illegal activities in the city, from gambling and betting operations to various other unlawful rackets, including extortion. While some are engaged in property-related crimes, others are involved in violent offences. From time to time, videos of these criminals surface on social media, showing them partying, dancing at events, throwing currency notes, and posing with weapons—openly flaunting their influence and disregard for the law. Residents hesitate to lodge complaints against them due to fear and intimidation. A senior officer said that monitoring of notorious criminals is carried out at multiple levels. Each police station maintains a list of around 30 active hardened criminals in their jurisdiction, including hardened criminals and listed goons. Their dossiers are also maintained by the Crime Branch, which tracks their movements both physically and through social media. There are more than 1200 criminals on monitoring list of city police.Explaining preventive measures, a senior officer said that offenders are often "bound over," which legally restrains them from engaging in criminal activities. If they violate these conditions, they face jail and fines.For hardened criminals, stringent actions such as externment (district banishment) and proceedings under the National Security Act (NSA) are also initiated.One of the most alarming issues flagged by the recent incidents is that several criminals return to crime soon after being released from jail on bail or after completing their sentences. Many recent cases in the city have reportedly involved such repeat offenders. This raises serious questions about post-release monitoring by local police as well as the Crime Branch, which maintains records of their release and activities. Despite police assurances, continued incidents of murder, attempted murder, robbery, theft, and assault indicate that existing surveillance mechanisms may not be functioning effectively.Police commissioner Sanjay Kumar said that regular monitoring of hardened criminals is carried out, and accountability is fixed if there are lapses. "If monitoring is not conducted properly, those responsible are questioned and action is taken against them," he said.Referring to the recent Aishbagh firing case, the commissioner said police are verifying whether the accused had been "bound over" earlier. He acknowledged that the use of firearms in recent incidents indicates that criminals have access to weapons. "Whenever firearms are recovered, we try to trace the entire supply chain and bust it. Firearms remain under constant watch," he added.