Ahead of the New Year celebrations, the Delhi Police carried out an extensive overnight law-and-order exercise under Operation Aaghat 3.0, targeting identified crime hotspots across South and South-East Delhi. The coordinated crackdown, police officials said, was aimed at preventing organised crime, curbing street offences, and ensuring public safety during a period that traditionally witnesses increased crowd movement and a rise in opportunistic crime.
The operation, conducted over a 24-hour period, resulted in over 660 arrests, thousands of verifications, and the seizure of illegal arms, narcotics, illicit liquor, cash and stolen property. Officials described Aaghat 3.0 as one of the most comprehensive pre-festive policing drives undertaken in the Capital this year.
Scope of the Operation
Aaghat 3.0 was designed as a preventive policing initiative, rather than a reaction to any specific incident. Drawing on intelligence inputs and past crime data, the Delhi Police identified vulnerable localities, habitual offenders and active crime networks ahead of the year-end festivities.
Multiple teams were deployed simultaneously for night patrols, surprise checks and targeted raids. Senior officers coordinated the operation at the district level to ensure swift movement, real-time reporting and minimal disruption to lawful public activity.
Police officials said the objective was to deter potential offenders, disrupt supply chains linked to drugs and illegal liquor, and restrict the movement of repeat offenders during a high-risk period.
Arrests Across Districts
According to official figures, more than 660 people were arrested within 24 hours during Operation Aaghat 3.0 across South and South-East Delhi. Of these, 285 arrests were recorded in the South-East district alone, reflecting the concentration of enforcement in identified crime-prone pockets.
Those arrested included habitual offenders, gamblers, drug peddlers, bootleggers and individuals involved in property crime and vehicle theft. Cases were registered under various provisions of law, including the Arms Act, NDPS Act, Delhi Excise Act and Gambling Act.
“This drive sends a clear message against organised crime and street offences,” said S.K. Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police (Security), emphasising the deterrent intent behind the operation.
Preventive Detentions
A significant component of Aaghat 3.0 involved preventive action to avert potential law-and-order situations during New Year celebrations.
In the South-East district alone:
- 504 persons were apprehended under preventive measures
- 116 ‘bad characters’ or habitual offenders were detained
- 1,306 individuals were rounded up during night checks and verification drives
Across the operation area, police questioned and verified over 2,800 people, focusing on those with prior criminal records or suspicious activity.
Police officials said preventive detentions were carried out following established legal procedures, with magisterial oversight, and were intended to reduce the likelihood of crimes during large public gatherings.
Weapons Seized
The recovery of illegal arms formed a critical part of Operation Aaghat 3.0, reflecting ongoing concerns over unlicensed weapons in urban crime.
Police seized:
- 21 country-made pistols
- 20 live cartridges
- 27 knives and sharp-edged weapons
Officials said the weapons were suspected to be linked to violent crimes such as robbery, intimidation and extortion. The seizures, they added, were aimed at reducing the risk of violent incidents during the festive period.
Drug Enforcement
As part of its narcotics crackdown under Aaghat 3.0, the Delhi Police recovered 6.01 kilograms of ganja from multiple locations.
Several individuals were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and further investigations are underway to identify suppliers and distribution networks.
Police officials said heightened vigilance against drug trafficking during festivals is essential, given the increased demand and the involvement of organised networks in narcotics distribution.
Illicit Liquor Recovery
The operation also targeted the illegal liquor trade, a recurring concern during festive periods in the Capital.
Police recovered 12,258 quarters of illicit liquor, registering cases under the Delhi Excise Act against those involved in its storage, transportation and distribution.
Officials said the seizure was aimed at preventing the circulation of unregulated alcohol, which poses both law-and-order and public health risks during celebrations.
Action Against Gambling
Illegal gambling operations were also targeted during Aaghat 3.0. Police recovered ₹2,30,990 in cash from gambling dens operating in violation of the law.
Cases were registered under the Gambling Act, and several suspects were taken into custody. Police said such activities often intensify during festive seasons and are frequently linked to other forms of organised crime.
Recovery of Stolen Property
A key outcome of Operation Aaghat 3.0 was the recovery of stolen property, offering relief to victims of theft and snatching.
Police recovered:
- 350 stolen mobile phones, which officials said would be returned to their rightful owners after verification
- 231 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler, many linked to theft or other criminal cases
Property crime, particularly mobile phone theft and vehicle lifting, has remained a persistent issue in Delhi, and police said targeted operations such as Aaghat 3.0 help disrupt these networks.
Crime Hotspots Targeted
Raids and checks under Aaghat 3.0 were conducted in identified vulnerable areas, including densely populated neighbourhoods, transit points, commercial hubs and locations with a history of repeat offences.
Police officials said the selection of hotspots was based on crime mapping, surveillance data and previous festive-season trends. The presence of uniformed personnel and night patrols, they added, also served as a visible deterrent.
Policing Strategy
According to Delhi Police Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) Sanjay Kumar Jain, the operation was conceived as a focused intervention against both street-level offences and organised crime networks operating in the region.
“I am very happy to say that in the Southern Range’s South and South-East districts, Operation Aaghat was carried out to curb street crime and organised crime. Around 2,850 people were rounded up and questioned, and around 600 offenders were arrested during the operation. Our operation has been very successful,” Mr. Jain said.
Police officials said the scale of questioning and arrests reflected the preventive emphasis of Aaghat 3.0, with teams acting on prior intelligence and surveillance inputs to identify repeat offenders and disrupt active criminal networks ahead of the New Year celebrations.
Public Safety Focus
Police officials said the primary aim of Aaghat 3.0 was to ensure that citizens could celebrate the New Year in a secure environment.
Enhanced patrolling, checkpoints and surveillance measures are expected to continue through New Year’s Eve, particularly in nightlife zones, marketplaces and major traffic corridors.
The police have also urged the public to cooperate during checks and report suspicious activity through emergency helplines.
Civil Liberties Concerns
While large-scale preventive operations have previously raised questions about civil liberties, police officials maintained that all actions under Aaghat 3.0 were conducted within the bounds of law.
Preventive detentions, they said, were temporary and subject to judicial oversight, with an emphasis on proportionality and legality.
Legal experts note that such operations require a careful balance between public safety imperatives and constitutional safeguards.
The Road Ahead
Operation Aaghat 3.0 stands out as a significant pre-New Year policing exercise in the Capital, marked by its scale, coordination and preventive focus. With over 660 arrests, thousands of verifications and substantial seizures of weapons, drugs, illicit liquor and stolen property, the operation underscores the Delhi Police’s emphasis on proactive law enforcement.
As cities continue to grapple with complex crime patterns during festive periods, targeted operations like Aaghat 3.0 are likely to remain a key tool in urban policing. Their long-term effectiveness, however, will depend on sustained follow-up investigations, successful prosecutions and continued adherence to legal safeguards.
