Gujarat Police arrest history-sheeter with 27 cases from Assam

In a major operation carried out during a special statewide prohibition drive ahead of Christmas and the New Year, the Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) arrested a key absconding accused wanted in multiple prohibition and organised crime cases, following a dramatic inter-state operation that culminated in an encounter-like incident in Dahod district.

According to the offical, the special drive that began on December 24, 2025 will continue till January 1, 2026, with focus on tracking down absconding accused involved in prohibition-related offences.

During the drive, the SMC received technical and human intelligence inputs indicating that Ashok Punmaram Panwar alias Bishnoi, a resident of Sangdwa village in Chitalwana taluka of Rajasthan’s Jalore district, was hiding in Dispur, Guwahati, in Assam. Panwar is the main accused in several cases registered under the Gujarat Terrorism and Control of Organised Crime Act (GujCTOC) and the Prohibition Act, and was absconding in more than 27 cases for over a year.

Acting on the information, a team comprising Police Sub-Inspectors K D Raviya and V N Jadeja was dispatched to Assam. With the assistance of the local Dispur police, Panwar and two other suspects were apprehended from Room No. 1304 of a hotel in Guwahati in the early hours of December 29. After completing legal formalities, the accused were brought to Gujarat in private vehicles.

While being transported to Gandhinagar, Panwar was travelling in a Scorpio N vehicle. A backup team led by Police Inspector R G Khant was also deployed. In the early hours of December 30, the teams regrouped near the Gorakhpur–Purvanchal Link Road toll plaza before proceeding towards Gujarat.

However, around 7.45 pm, when the convoy was passing through the Limdi–Limkheda road near Seviya village in Dahod district, Panwar allegedly attempted to escape by grabbing the driver’s seat belt and tightening it around the neck of PSI Raviya in an apparent attempt to strangulate him. Despite repeated attempts by the police team to restrain him, the accused continued to apply pressure.

Fearing for the life of the officer, Inspector Khant fired a single round from his service weapon, hitting Panwar in the right leg below the ankle. The injured accused was subdued, and the officer was freed from the chokehold.

Following the incident, a fresh case was registered at the SMC Police Station on December 31 under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections related to attempt to murder, assault on a public servant and obstructing official duty. Panwar was subsequently shifted to Zydus Hospital in Dahod, where he is currently undergoing treatment under police custody.

Police officials said that more than 27 cases have been registered against Panwar under GujCTOC and the Prohibition Act across Gujarat. A reward of ₹25,000 had earlier been announced for information leading to his arrest.

Senior officials said the investigation is continuing, and further action will be taken once the accused is discharged from hospital. The Gujarat Police reiterated that strict action would continue against organised liquor syndicates and absconding offenders during the ongoing prohibition drive.