City cops crack the whip on crime

Chennai: In a midnight crackdown, Chennai city police detained 234 rowdies, history-sheeters, ganja peddlers and suspected offenders. Police also seized 21.4kg of ganja and 1,070 narcotic tablets during the operation. The drive -- titled Operation Special Drive -- began on Tuesday night and continued into Wednesday morning across all 12 police districts in the city. The drive was launched under the directions of Chennai city commissioner of police Abin Dinesh Modak. The crackdown comes four days after the murder of two Gaana singers near Mudichur in Tambaram. Following the murders, senior police officials ordered intensified surveillance and preventive operations . Special squads comprising assistant commissioners, inspectors and police personnel were formed under supervision of deputy commissioners in each police district to conduct coordinated enforcement drives.According to police, 133 history-sheeters and rowdy offenders were arrested during the operation. Simultaneously, a separate anti-drug crackdown titled "Special Drive against Drugs" led to the arrest of 101 persons involved in possession, sale and distribution of ganja and narcotic tablets.While 20 persons were detained in Pulianthope, 18 were held in T Nagar, 16 in Adyar, 12 in Mylapore and 10 in Anna Nagar. Detentions and arrests were also made in the remaining police districts across Chennai.In North Chennai alone, police detained at least 107 persons. Of them, 75 were involved in ganja peddling and smuggling activities, while 27 were classified as ‘C' category history-sheeters. "We may not formally arrest all the detained suspects and remand them to prison. We will review each case and, if necessary, initiate proceedings under Section 129 of BNSS. Others may be arrested and remanded in judicial custody based on available evidence," said a senior police officer. Police also intensified action against smuggling and sale of tobacco products . Senior officials said the special drive and anti-drug enforcement operations would continue across Chennai to curb violent crime and illegal narcotics activities.