In a major push to root out street crime and strengthen public safety in the national capital, law enforcement authorities have launched a massive special drive. Initiated under the direct directives of the newly appointed police commissioner, the targeted campaign aims to dismantle the networks behind snatching, illegal weapons, narcotics peddling, and gambling rings. Highlighting the scale of the operation, East Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police Rajiv Kumar Rawal stated that a four-day intensive drive was executed across the district between August 17 and August 20, 2026. During this period, field units registered 85 fresh FIRs and successfully apprehended a total of 151 offenders.
Stolen Vehicles Recovered and Cases Solved
The crackdown yielded significant results against vehicle thieves and snatchers operating within the eastern district. Police managed to solve 16 motor vehicle theft cases, arresting 9 suspects and recovering 27 stolen two-wheelers, including motorcycles and scooters. In addition, action was taken against street predators involved in 9 robbery cases and 9 snatching incidents, leading to the arrest of 8 culprits. To clean up the local criminal ecosystem further, law enforcement tracked down 9 proclaimed offenders, 1 parole jumper, and 2 overstaying jumpers who had evaded the authorities.
Previous Crackdowns Across Other Districts
This coordinated police action is not restricted to the eastern division alone, as similar aggressive operations have previously been rolled out in other parts of the city. Earlier, under a comparable drive executed in the South-East district, authorities initiated legal proceedings against roughly 500 individuals, which included 130 primary accused and the detention of 64 bad characters. Similarly, the North-East district police carried out raids across 39 locations, putting numerous felons behind bars. According to administrative officials, maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward street crime remains a top priority, and these operations will continue persistently.
Crackdown on Arms, Narcotics, and Gambling
The multi-pronged special drive also targeted various illegal trades, yielding extensive seizures of contraband, weapons, and cash. Under the Arms Act, 29 cases were registered, resulting in 29 arrests alongside the seizure of 2 pistols, 4 country-made pistols, 11 cartridges, and 21 knives. Gambling dens faced the heaviest blow with 32 FIRs registered under the Gambling Act, leading to the capture of 63 gamblers and the recovery of Rs 23,131 in cash. Drug enforcement efforts under the NDPS Act led to 4 arrests and the seizure of 1.199 kilograms of charas alongside 532 grams of ganja. Furthermore, operations targeting illicit liquor under the Excise Act resulted in 20 FIRs, 20 arrests, and the confiscation of substantial quantities of illegal alcohol.
