In a significant triumph for Indian law enforcement, two of India's most-wanted gangsters, Venkatesh Garg and Bhanu Rana, who were operating their criminal networks from abroad, have been apprehended in separate international operations. Venkatesh Garg was arrested in Georgia, while Bhanu Rana was nabbed in the United States. Both are expected to be deported to India soon to face multiple criminal charges.

These arrests mark a major breakthrough in India's ongoing crackdown on organized crime, especially those operating from foreign soil. It is believed that over two dozen major Indian gangsters continue to operate from abroad, running extortion and smuggling rackets through hired operatives in India.

Venkatesh Garg: From Haryana to Georgia

Venkatesh Garg, a resident of Narayangarh in Haryana, had fled India after being implicated in the murder of a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) leader in Gurugram. He has more than 10 criminal cases registered against him in India. From his base in Georgia, Garg was actively recruiting youth from Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi, and other North Indian states into his criminal network. He was also running an extortion syndicate in partnership with Kapil Sangwan, another gangster based overseas. In October, the Delhi Police arrested four members of Sangwan's gang for firing at a builder's house and farmhouse, revealing the international links of these criminal groups. Garg was allegedly running an extortion network targeting builders and businessmen in Delhi-NCR and beyond.

Bhanu Rana: Bishnoi Gang's US Connection

Bhanu Rana, originally from Karnal in Haryana, has been a long-time operative of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, one of India's most feared criminal networks. He has multiple cases registered against him across Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi. Rana's name surfaced during investigations into a grenade attack in Punjab, and he was found orchestrating violent activities remotely, including the procurement of weapons. In June, the Special Task Force (STF) from Karnal arrested two men carrying hand grenades, pistols, and ammunition. When questioned, they admitted that they acted on Rana's instructions. He had been living in the US for several years.

Authorities say that the arrests of Garg and Rana have exposed a wider international nexus of Indian gangsters using foreign bases to run operations back home. Further investigations are underway to identify their accomplices and financial channels.