NEW DELHI, Dec 27: Hundreds of alleged anti-social elements have been arrested in Delhi in an overnight crackdown as the national capital gears up for New Year celebrations. The Delhi Police has apprehended 966 people and seized arms, drugs, illegal liquor, and vehicles during a large-scale preventive crackdown in southeast Delhi ahead of New Year celebrations, an official said on Saturday.
The operation, namely Operation Aaghat 3.0, was launched to curb organised crime, street offences, and the activities of habitual criminals in view of heightened public movement during year-end festivities, they said. “Of the total, 331 accused were arrested under the Delhi Excise Act, NDPS Act, and the Public Gambling Act, while 504 people were apprehended under various preventive provisions,” the police said. “As part of targeted action, police apprehended 116 listed bad characters, arrested five auto-lifters and four proclaimed offenders,” officials added.
During the operation, police recovered 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges, and 27 knives under the Arms Act. They also seized 12,258 quarters of illicit liquor, 6.01 kg of ganja, and ₹2.36 lakh from gamblers. A total of 310 mobile phones, six two-wheelers, and one four-wheeler were also recovered, the police said.
“In addition, action was taken against 1,306 persons under the Delhi Police Act, while 231 two-wheelers were seized for violations,” the officials said. The crackdown was carried out with over 600 police personnel deployed across the district.
The crackdown aimed at preventing crimes during the festive period. Coordinated searches were held across vulnerable areas within a span of 24 hours till this morning to take suspected troublemakers into custody. The joint operation was carried out by South and South East district police.
South East district alone accounted for 285 arrests during the intensified security drive, police said, adding that all the arrests were made under various laws, including provisions of the Arms Act, the Excise Act, the NDPS Act, and the Gambling Act.
Over 2,800 people were questioned as part of the drive, SK Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police (Security), Delhi Police, said describing it as a “very successful operation.” Besides, 850 persons were also detained in the two districts to ensure crime-free celebrations during New Year.
The police said the operation was aimed at preventing any untoward incident during New Year celebrations, particularly in residential areas and jhuggi clusters, and to deter organised crime networks and habitual offenders. Officials said, “Stringent legal provisions, including Sections 111 and 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), will be invoked in suitable cases, and proposals for the externment of repeat offenders are also being initiated.”
The police added that intensified patrolling, vehicle checking, and night surveillance had led to a reduction in PCR calls related to street crime in the district over the past month. Under Op Aaghat 3.0, about 155 “bad characters,” or habitual offenders, were taken into custody, police said. 10 property offenders were also arrested during the drive.
“The major focus of the entire drive was against organised crime, especially drug peddlers, bootleggers, gamblers, and habitual offenders. The message was loud and clear to the criminals and street crimes,” the Joint CP said. The drive also focused on dismantling vehicle theft networks. Five auto-lifters were arrested to ensure that revellers don’t face any trouble during the festive period.
(Manas Dasgupta)
