The North District Police has launched a major 72-hour enforcement drive under “Operation Chakra”, resulting in the registration of 154 cases and the arrest of 193 people for alleged violations involving illicit liquor, narcotic substances, illegal arms and gambling.
The intensive operation was conducted from August 24 to August 27, 2026, with teams from police stations and units across North District carrying out extensive checking, patrolling, searches and intelligence-led enforcement at strategic locations.
According to the Delhi Police press release dated August 30, 2026, the operation resulted in substantial recoveries, including 10,122 quarter bottles of illicit liquor, 1.975 kg of ganja, 39.2 grams of heroin, 544 grams of charas, 240 buprenorphine tablets, 500 Avil injections, 22 knives and three country-made pistols. Police also reported the recovery of live ammunition, gambling stake money, mobile phones and four stolen two-wheelers.
The operation was conducted under the supervision of DCP North Niharika Bhatt, IPS, with the leadership of Additional DCP-I Pukhraj Kamal Gupta, IPS, and Additional DCP-II Ram Dulesh Meena.
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Operation Chakra Targets Street Crime and Illegal Activities
The North District Police launched Operation Chakra with the stated objective of curbing street crime and other unlawful activities across the district.
Police teams from different police stations and units were mobilised for the 72-hour drive. SDPOs, SHOs and operational teams were instructed to intensify checking, patrolling and deployment at strategic locations.
The enforcement drive focused particularly on activities involving:
- Illicit liquor
- Illegal drug possession and supply
- Unlawful possession of weapons
- Gambling
- Stolen vehicles and other criminal activities
According to the police, the operation combined intelligence-led surveillance, searches, checking and coordination among multiple units to identify and take action against individuals allegedly involved in such activities.
The police said the initiative was aimed not only at making arrests but also at disrupting networks involved in the supply and circulation of illegal substances, weapons and proceeds associated with unlawful activities.
193 Persons Arrested in 154 Cases
During the 72-hour operation, North District Police registered a total of 154 cases under the Excise Act, NDPS Act, Arms Act and Gambling Act.
A total of 193 persons were arrested in connection with these cases.
The arrests were spread across different categories of offences, with gambling-related cases accounting for the highest number of arrests, followed by excise, arms and narcotics-related cases.
Police said the coordinated enforcement effort was designed to identify offenders through field intelligence, surveillance and checking operations while simultaneously seizing illegal material.
The action reflects the district police’s emphasis on preventing unlawful activities that can contribute to broader public safety concerns.
63 Arrested in Illicit Liquor Crackdown
The Excise Act action formed one of the largest components of Operation Chakra.
According to the police, 63 persons were arrested in connection with cases involving illicit liquor. During the drive, police seized 10,122 quarter bottles of illicit liquor along with one car.
The police said the recovered liquor was allegedly being transported from adjoining states for illegal distribution in local areas.
The seizure is significant because illegal liquor distribution can create challenges for law enforcement, particularly when supply networks move consignments across district or state boundaries.
By targeting both the suspected carriers and the material being transported, the police sought to disrupt the local supply chain.
The recovery of a vehicle allegedly associated with the transportation of the illicit liquor was also reported as part of the action.
Narcotics Crackdown Leads to 21 Arrests
The operation also included a focused drive against the illegal drug trade.
North District Police reported the arrest of 21 persons under the NDPS Act.
The seizures included:
- 1.975 kg of ganja
- 39.2 grams of heroin
- 544 grams of charas
- 240 buprenorphine tablets
- 500 Avil injections
The variety of substances recovered indicates that the enforcement action covered multiple forms of suspected illegal narcotics and pharmaceutical substances.
Police described the action as a significant intervention against the illegal drug trade in the district.
Drug-related investigations generally require authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding possession, transportation or distribution of prohibited substances. The press release states that the arrests and recoveries were made during Operation Chakra, while further case-specific investigation would determine the individual roles of those arrested.
Illegal Arms Seized During Intensive Weapon Crackdown
Another major component of the operation focused on illegal possession and carrying of weapons.
According to North District Police, 22 cases were registered under the Arms Act, resulting in the arrest of 22 individuals.
The police reported the recovery of:
- 22 knives
- 3 country-made pistols
- 2 live cartridges
The crackdown was aimed at reducing the availability of illegal weapons on the streets and preventing their potential use in violent or other criminal activities.
Illegal weapons can pose a significant public safety concern because their circulation may increase the risk of violent incidents. Police therefore carried out checking and intelligence-based action to identify individuals allegedly carrying prohibited or unauthorised weapons.
The recovery of country-made pistols and live ammunition formed an important part of the operation’s overall enforcement results.
Gambling Action Results in 87 Arrests
Illegal gambling was another major focus of Operation Chakra.
Police reported registering 50 gambling cases and arresting 87 persons during raids conducted at multiple locations across North District.
The operation also resulted in the seizure of:
- ₹1,69,750 in stake money
- Two mobile phones
- Playing cards
The police described the action as part of its stated zero-tolerance approach towards illegal gambling and other activities that can affect law and order.
The large number of arrests in gambling-related cases made this the biggest category of arrests during the 72-hour drive.
Authorities said raids and checking operations were conducted at multiple locations to identify suspected gambling activities and seize money and other items allegedly connected with such activity.
Four Stolen Two-Wheelers Recovered
In addition to action under the Excise Act, NDPS Act, Arms Act and Gambling Act, police also reported recovering four stolen two-wheelers during the operation.
The recovery adds another dimension to Operation Chakra, which the police described as a broader effort to disrupt criminal activities and strengthen public safety.
Vehicle theft investigations often depend on registration records, local intelligence, field verification and coordination between police units. The recovery of the four two-wheelers forms part of the overall property-related action reported during the drive.
The press release does not provide individual details of the vehicles or separate case numbers connected with each recovery.
Intelligence and Surveillance at the Centre of Operation
A key feature of Operation Chakra was the use of multiple investigative and enforcement methods.
Police teams were directed to combine:
Human intelligence: Local intelligence inputs were used to identify suspected offenders and locations associated with unlawful activities.
Strategic checking: Police personnel were deployed at locations considered important from a law-and-order perspective.
Patrolling: Increased police presence was maintained across the district during the 72-hour period.
Search operations: Teams conducted searches and raids based on available intelligence and suspected criminal activity.
Multi-unit coordination: Different police stations and operational units worked together as part of the district-wide drive.
The police said this coordinated approach helped them identify offenders and seize illegal material during a concentrated enforcement period.
Leadership and Police Team Coordination
Operation Chakra was conducted under the supervision of Niharika Bhatt, IPS, DCP North District.
The operation was led by Pukhraj Kamal Gupta, IPS, Additional DCP-I North, and Ram Dulesh Meena, Additional DCP-II North.
Various teams from police stations and units across North District participated in the drive.
The district-level coordination allowed police personnel to conduct simultaneous enforcement activities across different areas instead of restricting action to a single police station.
According to the police, the teams were instructed to maintain heightened vigilance and take stringent action against suspected drug peddlers, bootleggers, illegal arms carriers and individuals allegedly involved in gambling.
Consolidated Recovery During Operation Chakra
The overall recoveries reported by North District Police include:
| Category | Recovery |
|---|---|
| Illicit liquor | 10,122 quarter bottles |
| Vehicle linked to liquor action | 1 car |
| Ganja | 1.975 kg |
| Heroin | 39.2 grams |
| Charas | 544 grams |
| Buprenorphine | 240 tablets |
| Avil injections | 500 |
| Country-made pistols | 3 |
| Live cartridges | 2 |
| Knives | 22 |
| Gambling stake money | ₹1,69,750 |
| Mobile phones | 2 |
| Playing cards | Recovered |
| Stolen two-wheelers | 4 |
The recoveries demonstrate the wide range of enforcement undertaken during the 72-hour operation.
Police Aim to Disrupt Criminal Networks
The North District Police said Operation Chakra was designed to go beyond isolated arrests and focus on disrupting criminal networks.
Illegal liquor distribution, narcotics trafficking, illegal arms possession and gambling can involve networks extending across multiple locations. According to the police, intelligence gathering and coordinated enforcement were therefore important components of the operation.
The seizure of illegal material and suspected proceeds of unlawful activity was intended to weaken such networks while deterring individuals from participating in them.
Police also said the initiative was aimed at reinforcing public confidence and creating a safer environment for residents.
Public Cooperation Considered Important
The police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious or unlawful activity to authorities.
Public cooperation can assist law enforcement by providing timely information about suspected criminal activity, particularly in neighbourhoods where illegal activities may otherwise remain difficult to detect.
The North District Police emphasised that community participation, combined with responsive policing, can contribute to safer streets and stronger public security.
Further Legal Action and Investigation
While the 72-hour drive has resulted in multiple arrests and recoveries, the individual cases registered during Operation Chakra will continue through their respective legal and investigative processes.
The police press release indicates that offenders were arrested and illegal materials were seized under relevant laws. Further investigation in individual cases will determine the circumstances, evidence and alleged roles of those arrested.
The police also said the broader objective remains the identification and disruption of criminal networks and unlawful activities across North District.
Operation Chakra represents a concentrated 72-hour enforcement effort by the North District Police against several categories of unlawful activity.
Between August 24 and August 27, 2026, police registered 154 cases and arrested 193 persons, while reporting substantial seizures of illicit liquor, narcotics, illegal weapons, ammunition, gambling stake money and stolen two-wheelers.
Among the most significant recoveries were 10,122 quarter bottles of illicit liquor, 1.975 kg of ganja, 39.2 grams of heroin, 544 grams of charas, 240 buprenorphine tablets, 500 Avil injections, 22 knives, three country-made pistols, two live cartridges and four stolen two-wheelers.
The operation relied on coordinated policing, strategic checking, patrolling, intelligence inputs, searches and enforcement by teams across North District.
According to the police, the initiative reflects its continued focus on tackling street crime, disrupting illegal supply networks and strengthening public safety. With further investigation continuing in the cases registered during the drive, the operation is expected to remain part of the district’s wider efforts to maintain law and order and reinforce public confidence in policing.
