Crime Crackdown – Delhi Police Detains 482 During Massive Anti-Gang Operation
Crime Crackdown – Delhi Police carried out a large-scale crackdown on criminal syndicates over a two-day operation that extended across multiple northern states, leading to hundreds of arrests and the seizure of weapons, cash, narcotics and illegal liquor.
Delhi Police on Friday said that 482 individuals were taken into custody during “Operation Gang Bust 2.0”, a coordinated campaign aimed at dismantling organised crime groups operating in and around the national capital. The operation was conducted over 48 hours between Tuesday and Thursday across Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Multi-State Raids Conducted Across More Than 1,000 Locations
According to officials, law enforcement teams conducted raids at 1,014 separate locations as part of the drive. The action was led by the Special Cell of Delhi Police with support from local police units in neighbouring states.
Additional Commissioner of Police Pramod Singh Kushwah said the primary objective of the operation was to weaken organised criminal networks involved in illegal arms supply, narcotics trade and activities considered a threat to public security.
Police stated that the operation focused particularly on operatives allegedly associated with Pakistan-based gangster Shahzad Bhatti. Investigators claim the network used social media platforms to recruit individuals for unlawful activities and to expand its influence in north India.
Nine Alleged Associates of Shahzad Bhatti Arrested
Officials confirmed that nine suspected members linked to the Bhatti syndicate were among those arrested. Investigators alleged that these individuals had been assigned tasks including random firing incidents targeting security personnel in Delhi-NCR and other parts of northern India.
Authorities also claimed the group had connections to illegal arms trafficking. Police teams reportedly tracked communication patterns and movement across different states before carrying out the coordinated raids.
The Special Cell said the arrests were made after intelligence inputs indicated rising activity linked to organised gangs operating through interstate networks. Officials added that the operation was planned to disrupt the supply chain of weapons and narcotics allegedly being circulated by criminal groups.
Weapons, Cash and Narcotics Recovered During Searches
During the searches, police recovered a large quantity of weapons and contraband materials. Seized items included 141 pistols, 212 cartridges and 79 knives, according to officials.
In addition to arms, authorities recovered 24 vehicles believed to have been used in criminal activities. Police also seized nearly Rs 19 lakh in cash and 31 mobile phones, which investigators are expected to examine for evidence related to gang operations and communication channels.
Officials further stated that around 19 kilograms of narcotics and 1,234 quarters of illegal liquor were confiscated during the operation. The recovered material has been sent for further investigation and legal procedures.
Police Say Action Will Continue Against Organised Crime
Delhi Police described the operation as part of an ongoing strategy to target organised criminal networks and prevent gang-related violence in the region. Senior officers indicated that similar enforcement drives may continue in the coming months to monitor interstate gang activity and curb illegal weapon circulation.
Officials said coordination between police departments of different states played a significant role in executing the raids simultaneously and ensuring arrests were made without major disruption.
Investigators are now examining digital records, financial links and recovered communication devices to identify additional suspects and possible interstate connections tied to the network