CHENNAI: More than 100 rowdies and persons involved in criminal activities were arrested during the Chennai Metropolitan Police’s overnight 'Special Drive Operation' conducted across various parts of the city, according to a Daily Thanthi report.
The special drive was launched on the instructions of the Chennai Police Commissioner to curb criminal activities and prevent the circulation of narcotics in the city. Special police teams were formed across major police zones and carried out intensive vehicle checks, searches and patrol operations throughout Tuesday night.
Police said 18 rowdies were arrested in the T Nagar police district, while 16 were held in Adyar, 20 in Pulianthope, 10 in Anna Nagar and 12 in Mylapore police districts.
According to police, several of those arrested had criminal backgrounds and were wanted in pending cases. Some of them had allegedly failed to appear before courts despite arrest warrants being issued against them.
The arrested persons are being held at undisclosed locations where police are conducting further inquiry and interrogation.
Police said the 'Special Drive Operation' also focused on gangs involved in the smuggling and sale of ganja and other banned narcotic substances in the city.
Officials said the preventive action was aimed at stopping habitual offenders and history-sheeters from regrouping and engaging in serious crimes such as murder, robbery and drug trafficking.
The police said surprise raids and 'Special Drive Operations' against rowdyism and organised crime would continue across Chennai in the coming days as part of intensified surveillance measures.
“The law will take its course against anyone disturbing public peace in Chennai,” police warned.
The overnight crackdown caused a stir in several parts of the city as police teams conducted simultaneous searches and checks in multiple neighbourhoods. Police sources said similar operations would be carried out regularly to monitor the movement of rowdies and anti-social elements.