4,771 criminals arrested in 15-day ‘Operation Trackdown’

As many as 4,771 alleged criminals were arrested across Haryana during a 15-day special crackdown targeting serious and organised crime, with police registering 3,915 cases and intensifying surveillance of habitual offenders, officials said on Monday.

The arrests were made under "Operation Trackdown", conducted between August 1 and 15 with district police forces, crime branches, the Special Task Force (STF) and other specialised units working in coordination.

Director General of Police Ajay Singhal said the operation was aimed not merely at making arrests but at mounting sustained pressure on criminal networks and preventing repeat offences through intelligence- and technology-driven policing.

4,771 arrested

According to official figures, police arrested 4,771 accused during the fortnight-long drive and registered 3,915 criminal cases.

Among those arrested were 865 people allegedly involved in 621 serious criminal cases. Police also took action against accused persons in 258 major cases during the operation, Inspector General of Police, State Crime Branch, Rakesh Arya said.

The campaign concentrated on people wanted or allegedly involved in murder, attempt to murder, robbery, dacoity, extortion, snatching and kidnapping, as well as illegal arms trafficking and other forms of organised crime.

The DGP attributed the arrests to stronger coordination between different wings of the force and what he described as a "zero-tolerance" approach towards serious crime.

District police units were tasked with identifying wanted and habitual offenders in their jurisdictions, while specialised teams and the STF concentrated on organised criminal networks and individuals involved in major offences.

Habitual offenders tracked

A significant component of the operation involved updating police records relating to habitual offenders.

During the campaign, police updated 1,406 existing history sheets and opened history sheets for another 241 people identified as new habitual offenders.

History sheets are maintained by police to record the criminal history and activities of individuals with repeated involvement in offences. Updating these records allows law-enforcement agencies to monitor patterns of activity and coordinate information across police jurisdictions.

Singhal said Haryana Police was increasingly strengthening intelligence- and technology-based policing to examine criminals' previous records, monitor their activities and identify connections between individuals and organised networks.

The strategy, he said, was intended to move policing beyond arrests in individual cases towards disrupting the structures that allow organised crime to continue.

Arms, drugs targeted

Police also mounted a parallel crackdown on narcotics trafficking and illegal weapons during Operation Trackdown.

Teams conducted searches and arrests against suspected drug traffickers and people allegedly possessing unauthorised firearms, recovering illegal weapons, narcotic substances and other prohibited material during the drive.

The authorities did not provide a consolidated quantity or value of the drugs and weapons recovered in the statement.

The focus on arms and narcotics reflects the state's broader attempt to target the infrastructure supporting organised criminal activity. Illegal firearms are frequently linked with violent offences and gang activity, while drug trafficking networks often operate across district and state boundaries.

The involvement of the STF and specialised crime units was intended to improve coordination in cases where suspects or networks operated across multiple jurisdictions.

Networks under scanner

Singhal said the operation should not be viewed as a one-time exercise centred solely on the number of arrests.

"The objective of Operation Trackdown is not limited to merely arresting criminals," he said, stressing that the larger aim was to maintain an effective and sustained crackdown on offenders and their networks.

According to the DGP, information gathered during the campaign will be used to review criminal histories, identify associates and monitor activities that could indicate renewed involvement in crime.

The opening and updating of history sheets is expected to form an important part of this follow-up strategy.

Police units will also continue sharing intelligence relating to serious and organised crimes so that suspects moving between districts can be tracked more effectively.

Public help sought

The DGP also appealed to residents to share information relating to crime, narcotics, illegal weapons, gangster activities and suspicious persons or activities with police.

Singhal said public participation was crucial in preventing serious crimes and dismantling criminal networks, adding that even a small piece of information could help police prevent a major incident.

He assured citizens that the identities of people providing information to police would be kept confidential.

The conclusion of the 15-day campaign, police said, will not mark the end of the crackdown. Intelligence gathered during Operation Trackdown is expected to feed into continuing surveillance and enforcement against wanted offenders, habitual criminals and organised networks across the state.