Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Detained and Shifted to Assam Jail Under PIT-NDPS Act

Gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Detained and Shifted to Assam Jail Under PIT-NDPS Act

Notorious gangster and drug lord Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a key figure in the killing of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, was detained on Sunday and moved from Punjab to a high-security prison in Silchar, Assam, under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (PIT-NDPS) Act. The action was taken by the National Crime Bureau (NCB), which cited Bhagwanpuria's continued involvement in criminal activities orchestrated from within high-security jails.

Bhagwanpuria, who had been lodged at Bathinda Central Jail, was moved under tight security with the cooperation of the Punjab Police. He was first transported to Chandigarh Airport before being flown to Assam. The gangster, who has 128 FIRs registered against him across Punjab and other states, has been a significant figure in the state's underworld. Since his arrest in 2015 for a murder case, Bhagwanpuria has been incarcerated in several jails across Punjab.

The PIT-NDPS Act, implemented in 1988, is designed to curb illicit drug trafficking and criminal activities linked to narcotics. It allows for the detention of individuals involved in such activities, with the goal of preventing them from continuing their harmful actions. In Bhagwanpuria’s case, the NCB stated that he had been using mobile phones to coordinate criminal operations from prison, prompting the decision to relocate him to a different state facility.

Bhagwanpuria's notoriety extends beyond his criminal activities in Punjab. The gangster is known for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy with fellow gangster Lawrence Bishnoi to assassinate Sidhu Moose Wala. Although their alliance eventually fell apart, Bhagwanpuria remains a key figure in Punjab's criminal landscape. Authorities report that Bhagwanpuria faces multiple charges, including arms and drug smuggling, as well as terrorism-related offenses under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The gangster’s criminal network is also international in scope, with strong links to operatives in Canada, the United States, and Pakistan. According to the NCB, his relocation to Assam was necessary to disrupt the international criminal ecosystem that continued to facilitate his illegal activities. The decision to shift Bhagwanpuria aims to curb his ability to orchestrate gang-related crimes and disrupt his extensive operations.

Bhagwanpuria, a native of Gurdaspur district, has been described as one of Punjab's most feared gangsters, second only to Lawrence Bishnoi. His criminal activities have caused significant concern among law enforcement, especially regarding the rising influence of gangs within the state’s prisons. The NCB's action underscores the growing urgency to address gang violence and drug trafficking in Punjab and neighboring states.

With Bhagwanpuria now moved to a prison outside Punjab, authorities hope to prevent further criminal activities linked to his gang. This move highlights the increasing efforts of the NCB and state police to clamp down on organized crime and its connections to international criminal networks. The relocation of such a notorious figure also signals a broader strategy to ensure that criminal masterminds do not continue to operate from within prison walls.