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Penda Gang’s 10-Year Reign Ends as Police Invoke Gujarat’s Strongest Anti-Terror Law
Rajkot, November 10:
In a major blow to organized crime in Gujarat, the Rajkot Police have invoked the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GUJCTOC) against 17 members of the infamous Penda Gang. The accused have been charged for a series of violent crimes, including murder, extortion, and illegal arms trade, marking one of the state’s toughest crackdowns this year.
Police said the gang was behind the October 29 clash near Pragati Hospital, which left the city shaken and led to an extensive investigation into Rajkot’s underworld networks.
What Is GUJCTOC and Why It Matters
The GUJCROC Act allows authorities to target organized crime syndicates by treating their activities as acts of terrorism. The law also permits extended custody, wiretap evidence, and confiscation of illegally acquired assets, making it one of India’s most powerful anti-mafia tools.
By invoking GUJCTOC, the Rajkot Police aim to dismantle the Penda Gang’s financial and operational networks, a step rarely taken in local crime cases.
Inside the operation- 17 accused, 4 firearms, and a Trail of 71 cases
According to officials, 11 accused are in judicial custody, four in police custody, while two remain absconding. Police have recovered four illegal firearms, mobile devices, and transaction details linked to hawala-based funding.
Investigations revealed that the Penda Gang had built a shadow economy in Rajkot through extortion, narcotics trade, and illegal property dealings. Over the past decade, they have been linked to 71 criminal cases, including seven involving murder or attempted murder.
“This is not a routine police action. This is the beginning of a zero-tolerance phase against organized crime in Gujarat,” said a senior officer involved in the investigation.
Residents of Rajkot’s old city areas once controlled by the gang welcomed the crackdown. Local traders, who often faced extortion threats, said the police action has brought “visible relief.”
“For years, we lived under fear. If this law finally ends their network, Rajkot will breathe easier,” said a shop owner from Kotharia Road.
However, community leaders urged authorities to ensure that smaller gangs do not fill the vacuum. The system must not stop after the arrests, one resident said. This needs follow-up action to stop new criminals from emerging.
Gujarat’s New War on Organized Crime
This case is being seen as part of a larger state strategy to curb criminal syndicates operating in fast-growing cities like Rajkot, Surat, and Ahmedabad.
Police sources said several similar operations are underway, with focus on real-estate-linked gangs and illegal arms suppliers.
Experts believe the GUJCTOC move signals a shift in Gujarat’s policing from reactive response to pre-emptive disruption of organized networks.
“This law helps target the money trail, not just the men with guns,” said a retired IPS officer. “That’s how you dismantle a gang for good.”
The Penda Gang crackdown has drawn national attention for its scale and legal precedent. By using an anti-terrorism law against a local mafia, Gujarat Police have set a benchmark that other states may soon follow.
If the case leads to convictions, it could mark the first successful application of GUJCTOC in Rajkot and send a strong deterrent message to similar groups across India.
Parting Thoughts –
The Rajkot gang war case is not just about one gang’s downfall, it’s about how India’s law enforcement is modernizing to deal with organized crime that operates like corporate syndicates. With GUJCTOC now in play, the fight against Gujarat’s underworld has entered a new phase, one that targets the power, money, and networks that kept these gangs alive for decades.
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Rajkot Police invoke the GUJCTOC Act against 17 Penda Gang members in Gujarat’s biggest crackdown on organized crime. Weapons seized, assets under probe.
