The Haryana police have arrested 23 most-wanted criminals and busted 36 gangs involved in cases of robbery, theft, burglary, murder, extortion, ATM loot, dacoity and other criminal activities in the State in a special one-month drive in the run-up to the Assembly elections.

As many as 113 members of these gangs were arrested, the police said.

Director General of Police Manoj Yadava said that a special campaign was carried out across the State between July 20 and August 20 to get the most-wanted criminals and members of different gangs behind the bars. The arrested criminals were accused in a series of heinous crimes and carried rewards ranging between ₹5,000 and ₹50,000 on their arrest.

He said that four most-wanted criminals had been arrested from Sirsa, two each from Bhiwani, Rohtak and Dadri, one each from Panipat, Karnal, Narnaul, Rewari, Hisar, Faridabad, Palwal, Ambala, Sonipat and Kurukshetra and remaining by the Special Task Force.

Mr. Yadava also said that 113 members of 36 gangs involved in murder, attempt to murder and other criminal offences were arrested during the crackdown. Such kind of operations would continue until the police put a complete tap on incidences of gang-related crimes, he added.

Additional DGP, Law and Order, Navdeep Virk said that the arrest of active gang members included eight from Karnal, 14 from Panipat, 23 from Sonipat, six each from Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra and Fatehabad, three each from Dadri and Mewat, seven from Jhajjar, one each from Ambala, Rohtak and Palwal, nine from Panchkula, five each from Kaithal, Gurugram.

Mr. Virk said that most-wanted and active gangs were targeted and arrested by the police teams. Mr. Virk said such drives would take place throughout the State in the coming months.