The Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) of the Rajasthan Police has successfully executed a major operation, leading to the arrest of the highly wanted smuggler Sunil Meena. The raid took place in Gamerpura village, which falls under the Jiran police station jurisdiction in the Neemuch district of Madhya Pradesh. The mission, officially codenamed Operation Neelmani, saw significant collaboration between the Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh law enforcement agencies. Sunil Meena was high on the list of the top-25 narcotics criminals sought by Rajasthan authorities, with various agencies having collectively declared a bounty of 1,67,000 rupees on his head.
Eight months of intense surveillance
Locating and capturing Sunil Meena required meticulous planning and extreme patience. A specialized team comprising over 100 police personnel was assembled to track him down over a period of eight months. The operation relied heavily on a combination of advanced technical surveillance and precise human intelligence gathering. To monitor his movements closely, a police officer was deployed in the area disguised as a shepherd. This undercover operative provided critical, real-time updates regarding the suspect's habits and whereabouts, which ultimately paved the way for his capture.
Caught hiding behind a drum
Once the police received verified information that Sunil Meena was present at his residence, the joint team from the ANTF and the Madhya Pradesh Police immediately surrounded the property. During the surprise raid, the accused attempted to evade capture by hiding behind a blue iron drum kept inside his house. However, the police conducted a thorough search of the entire premises and successfully took him into custody. Sunil Meena is known for his cunning and violent nature; he had previously opened fire on police teams to escape arrest and was also a wanted suspect in the Keri firing case.
A significant blow to drug trafficking
According to police records, Sunil Meena is implicated in more than 19 serious criminal cases, including charges under the NDPS Act, the Arms Act, and for attempted murder. Law enforcement officials have described Operation Neelmani as a landmark success in the ongoing battle against illegal drug trafficking. His arrest deals a severe blow to interstate narcotics smuggling networks. The police are currently interrogating the accused to extract information regarding his wider criminal network, his accomplices, and the logistics behind his operations.
