High Court for swift action against gangster culture

Describing gangster culture as a significant threat to social order, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has called for decisive and swift action to address the menace of unchecked gang activities. The assertion came as Justice Harpreet Singh Brar of the HC dismissed a regular bail plea of Kapil described by the State of Punjab as “an active member of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang” in a murder case

The court observed that custody certificate’s perusal indicated that he was facing trial in nine other cases and he had already been convicted in two matters, while being acquitted in four. Justice Brar asserted gangster culture, particularly in the form of extortion rackets, had emerged as a significant threat to the social order in “today’s time”, fostering an environment of fear and lawlessness.

The Bench was of the view that glorification of violence, the normalisation of criminal behaviour, and the recruitment of vulnerable youth into gangs not only perpetuated crime, but also eroded public trust in judicial system. Besides this, extortion – a hallmark of their operations - forced individuals and businesses to pay for “protection” or face dire consequences, perpetuating a cycle of fear and lawlessness.

Justice Brar added such criminal activities not only stifled entrepreneurship, but also created a parallel economy, fostering corruption and subverting the rule of law. “The way, these hardened criminals are portrayed by popular media, has led to a distorted sense of power and impunity, particularly among the youth. The implications of unchecked gang activities are far-reaching, from rising violent crime rates to economic instability in affected communities and regions. This menace must be dealt with decisively and swiftly,” the court observed.

Justice Brar added a firm hand, with stringent law enforcement and legal measures, was essential for dismantling extortion rackets, deterring future criminal enterprises and safeguarding the society’s moral fabric. The judiciary, as such, was required to ensure that those engaged in such nefarious activities faced the brunt of the law, sending a strong message that such criminality would not be tolerated. This would be a step towards restoring public confidence and protecting the foundations of a law-abiding society.

Turning down the plea, Justice Brar added: “Keeping in view the facts and circumstances of the case and gravity of the offence as well as involvement of the petitioner in several other cases of similar nature, this court finds no ground to grant regular bail to him.”