New Delhi: Ahead of Holi, Delhi Police launched Operation Aaghaat 4.0 and arrested 200 people for alleged involvement in drug, liquor and arms trafficking. The drive also saw police detain several individuals under preventive provisions, prosecute many for drinking in public, round up thousands during checks and seize illegal firearms, knives, narcotics and large quantities of illicit liquor. Police said around 970 people were detained under preventive sections, while over 550 were prosecuted for drinking in public. During area checks and verification drives, 3,980 individuals were rounded up across residential colonies, markets and identified vulnerable pockets. About 475 vehicles were impounded under the Delhi Police Act, and 63 challans were issued under COTPA. The operation also resulted in the arrest of 70 listed bad characters and 4 proclaimed offenders. In separate actions, six alleged snatchers and auto-lifters were caught. Police recovered 9 stolen motorcycles and 20 stolen or lost mobile phones. More than 2,500 personnel were deployed for synchronised operations that included simultaneous checks at hotspots, execution of pending warrants, and focused drives in sensitive areas, police said. Joint commissioner of police (southern range) Sanjay Kumar Jain said, “Enhanced patrolling, naka picketing, breath analyser checks and high-visibility policing will continue through Holi. Police will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to hooliganism, harassment and drunken driving.” In all, 36 weapons were seized, including 12 illegal firearms, 14 live cartridges and 24 knives. A total of 33 cases were registered under the Arms Act. Police also recovered 7.2 kg of ganja and 12.7 gm of MDMA. Additionally, around 16,000 quarters of illicit liquor, 110 beer bottles and 28 beer cans were seized, leading to 60 cases under the Excise Act. Cash amounting to Rs 84,740 was recovered in gambling-related cases.
