'California is safer tonight', this is the quote American agencies used after seventeen people were arrested by police in the US state of California in connection with shootings in gurdwaras at Sacramento, Stockton and other locations, according to the State Attorney General. The US Police conducted a series of raids at more than 20 places in northern California on Sunday and seized weapons such as an AK-47, one machine gun and handguns. The 17 arrests made were mostly members of the local Sikh community, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Yuba City Police Chief Brian Baker, and Sutter County District Attorney Jennifer Dupré said at a press conference. As per the official release issued by the American agencies, two of the 17 people arrested belonged to the mafia and are wanted in many murder cases in India.
The arrested accused belong to rival criminal syndicates who are allegedly responsible for several violent crimes and shootings, including five attempted murder incidents in Sutter, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Yolo, and Merced counties, the California Attorney General said. Members of these criminal syndicates allegedly had a hand in a mass shooting at a Stockton Sikh temple on August 27, 2022 and, another shooting at a Sacramento Sikh temple on March 23 this year.
“Today, California is safer thanks to collaboration, determination, and swift action by DOJ agents and our law enforcement partners in Sutter County,” said Attorney General Rob Bonta. “No family should ever have to worry about drive-by shootings or other forms of gun violence in the neighborhoods where their children live and play. As a result of this joint law enforcement effort, we’re taking guns off the street and putting suspected gang members and their associates behind bars. Together, we’re putting public safety first. Thank you to our law enforcement partners across the state for working with us day-in and day-out to protect the people of California.”
“An investigation of this magnitude requires a tremendous amount of time and effort, and especially a lot of personnel,” said Sutter County District Attorney General Jennifer Dupré. “I cannot adequately express the appreciation of our small county for the help and support we’ve received from our public safety allies, especially the Department of Justice.”
Operation Broken Sword
In response to the multiple shooting incidents, American authorities had launched an investigation named Operation Broken Sword, targeting two opposing factions of a criminal syndicate that engaged in various criminal activities, including the sale of firearms and violent crimes.
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NEWS: 17 individuals were arrested in a takedown targeting suspects involved in multiple mass shootings and other violent crimes.
— Rob Bonta (@AGRobBonta) April 17, 2023
Thanks to @YubaCityPD and DA Dupre for their collaboration on this months-long investigation.
California is safer tonight. https://t.co/aplriIGmzK
The official release says, "the investigation began in February 2023, as part of a cooperative effort with the Yuba Sutter Narcotic and Gang Enforcement Task Force (NET-5), Yuba City Police Department, California Department of Justice (DOJ) Special Operations Unit, California Highway Patrol (CHP) Special Operations Unit, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Sutter County District Attorney’s Office. During the investigation, assistance was provided by the CHP, Woodland Police Department, Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, Merced County Sheriff’s Office, Vacaville Police Department, Federal Bureau of Investigations, Stanislaus Special Investigations Unit, and several local, state, and federal task forces. During yesterday’s operation, additional assistance was provided by the California Highway Patrol, Stockton Police Department, Ceres Police Department, Manteca Police Department, Merced Police Department, Sutter County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tracy Police Department."