Delhi Police unleash Operation Aaghat 3.0, hundreds rounded up ahead of new year

Operation Aaghat 3.0 targets organised crime, drug peddlers and habitual offenders

December 27, 2025

Delhi Tightens Security Ahead of New Year, Hundreds Detained

Guns, Ganja and Gambling: Operation Aaghat 3.0 Hits Delhi’s Underworld

In a sweeping pre-New Year crackdown aimed at ensuring public safety, the Delhi Police on Friday launched Operation Aaghat 3.0, leading to the arrest of hundreds of people across South and South East Delhi. The operation, carried out as a preventive measure ahead of the festive celebrations, targeted organised crime, habitual offenders, and street-level criminal activity. According to police, 285 people were formally arrested under provisions of the Excise Act, NDPS Act, and Gambling Act, while more than 500 others were detained as part of preventive action. An additional 116 individuals identified as “bad characters” were also taken into custody.

The intensified drive resulted in significant recoveries, including 21 country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges, 27 knives, over 12,000 quarters of illicit liquor and 6.01 kg of ganja. Police also seized ₹2.3 lakh in cash from gambling-related activities, along with 310 mobile phones and 232 vehicles, including two-wheelers and a four-wheeler. Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Hemant Tiwari said the operation was a major step towards maintaining law and order, adding that property offenders and auto-lifters were also arrested during the crackdown. In total, over 1,300 people were rounded up under preventive measures in the two districts.

Operation Aaghat 3.0 builds on earlier phases of the initiative launched by Delhi Police in recent months. The first phase in September saw multiple arrests and the seizure of firearms, narcotics, and stolen property, while Operation Aaghat 2.0 in October led to the detention of around 500 people as part of a broader clampdown on bootleggers, drug peddlers, and habitual offenders. Officials said the latest phase involved coordinated searches across vulnerable areas within 24 hours, with South East Delhi alone accounting for 285 arrests.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Security) S K Jain described the operation as highly successful, noting that more than 2,800 people were questioned during the drive. He said the focus remained firmly on organised crime and repeat offenders, to send a clear message ahead of the New Year. “The emphasis was on drug peddlers, bootleggers, gamblers, and habitual criminals. The message was loud and clear,” he said, underlining that the crackdown was designed to ensure crime-free celebrations in the national capital.

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