Daijiworld Media Network - Surat
Surat, Mar 18: In a major crackdown on crime, Surat Police have arrested 11 individuals under the Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act (PASA), officials confirmed on Tuesday. The arrests were made as part of a large-scale operation conducted in the Udhna, Bhestan, and Padesara areas.
Among those taken into custody is Gabru Bharwad, a notorious repeat offender with a history of serious crimes, including murder and extortion. Previously linked to an attack on a mobile shop owner in Sachin, Gabru had been on the run, evading authorities for months. While two of his accomplices were arrested earlier, he managed to escape—until Surat Police, with assistance from their Rajasthan counterparts, tracked him down and took him into custody.
Another key figure arrested under PASA is Ramesh Jangid, as authorities intensify their crackdown on criminal networks in the city.
Following their arrests, Gabru and his associates were subjected to a crime reconstruction process, during which they were seen publicly apologizing for their actions.
The Gujarat Prevention of Anti-Social Activities Act, 1985 (PASA), is a stringent law aimed at curbing activities that threaten public order. It allows preventive detention of individuals identified as habitual offenders involved in bootlegging, extortion, drug trafficking, immoral activities, and property-related crimes. Under PASA, authorities can detain individuals for up to a year without trial to maintain societal peace.
Over the years, PASA has played a crucial role in crime prevention across Gujarat. Between 2019 and 2023, law enforcement detained over 2,800 individuals under the Act for various offences, including sexual harassment, cybercrime, gambling, and illicit moneylending. The annual breakdown of detentions is as follows:
• 2019: 417 detentions
• 2020: 526 detentions
• 2021: 640 detentions
• 2022: 560 detentions
• 2023: 709 detentions
Among these, 74 individuals were detained for sexual harassment and 15 for cybercrime-related offences.
In Ahmedabad alone, between November 2018 and October 2020, authorities registered 2,897 PASA cases. Notably, 1,065 of these cases involved individuals with only a single prior complaint, raising questions about the broad application of the law.
However, PASA has also faced judicial scrutiny. Between 2019 and 2021, the Gujarat High Court overturned 3,447 out of 5,402 detention orders, citing concerns over potential misuse and overreach. Despite this, law enforcement continues to use PASA as a key tool in tackling organized crime and maintaining public safety.