Varanasi: Ghazipur police have uncovered 50 criminal gangs with 401 members during ‘Operation Vajrapat’ conducted between June 1 and 5, exposing the rapid rise of outfits such as Katra Gang, Mahakal Gang, 315 Gang and Farsa Gang.The crackdown, ordered by Varanasi Range DIG Vaibhav Krishna after the May 29 murder of hotelier’s son Vineet Rai allegedly by Katra Gang members, revealed how the vacuum created by gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari’s death in March 2024 and the dismantling of his criminal empire enabled young offenders and petty criminals to form new gangs across the district.Ghazipur SP Iraj Raja said, “We have identified 50 gangs operating in the district, many of them known by names such as Katra Gang, Mahakal Gang, 315 Gang and Farsa Gang. Most of these groups comprise young boys involved in acts of hooliganism, assault and public nuisance. They attempt to create fear and assert dominance by sharing provocative posts, photographs and videos on social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Instagram, often flaunting weapons and posting motorcycle reels to project a criminal image.”According to Raja, police have so far registered 39 cases against members of the identified gangs and arrested 11 accused. He said the crackdown has been intensified to ensure stringent action against offenders and to detect and dismantle any new gangs emerging in the district.He said police gathered intelligence through public inputs, interactions with youths—particularly students—and monitoring of social media platforms. Authorities are also seeking cooperation from residents across all sectors to facilitate the swift identification of emerging criminal groups.Police have called in the parents and guardians of youths, particularly minors, found to be associated with these gangs. At the same time, teams are carrying out door-to-door awareness drives, cautioning families that involvement in criminal activities and the resulting legal consequences can have a lasting impact on a child’s future and career prospects.
