Odisha Police Special Drive: Thousands Arrested, Drugs and Illegal Arms Seized

Bhubaneswar: Odisha Police has intensified its crackdown on criminals, narcotics networks, illegal mining operators and traffic violators under a statewide “Special Drive” launched on May 12 on the directions of Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania.

The 18-day operation, carried out under the supervision of district Superintendents of Police and the Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate, focused on the execution of Non-Bailable Warrants (NBWs), arrest of absconders, anti-narcotics action, illegal arms seizure, illegal mineral transportation and drunken driving enforcement.

According to police data, 5,703 NBWs were executed during the drive, while 520 absconding accused persons were arrested and produced before courts. Action was also initiated against 957 habitual offenders under Section 129 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNS), while proceedings were launched against 2,620 persons under Section 126 of the BNS.

In the anti-drug crackdown, police registered 97 NDPS cases and arrested 137 accused persons. Seizures included 7,398 kg of ganja, 586 grams of brown sugar, 220 grams of heroin, 219 litres of cough syrup and 1,050 bottles of cough syrup. Police also seized 27 vehicles, 14 mobile phones, three pistols and cash worth ₹2.92 lakh. Besides, 2,154 excise cases were registered during the campaign.

As part of traffic enforcement measures, 3,293 drivers were booked for drunken driving and their vehicles were seized. Police collected nearly ₹6.46 crore in fines for various traffic violations during the drive.

The operation also targeted illegal cattle transportation. Police registered 29 cases, arrested 13 accused persons and rescued 284 cows from 17 vehicles.

In action against illegal mining activities, police registered 654 cases and arrested 162 persons. A total of 878 vehicles, including trucks, tractors, trippers, power tillers and JCB machines, were seized during the operation.

Police also intensified their crackdown on illegal arms. During the special drive, 31 cases were registered and 35 persons arrested. Seizures included 39 firearms and 29 live cartridges.

Among all police ranges, the Central Range in Cuttack recorded the highest execution of NBWs with 1,519 warrants served, followed by Southern Range, Berhampur with 849 and Eastern Range, Balasore with 745.

The highest seizure of ganja was reported from the South-Western Range, Koraput, where 3,171 kg was confiscated, followed by Berhampur Range with 2,862 kg.

In traffic enforcement, the Western Range, Rourkela collected the highest road safety fines amounting to ₹1.78 crore.

Police said the strongest action against illegal mining mafias was reported from Central Range, Cuttack, where 165 cases were registered and 42 persons arrested.

The Southern Range recovered the highest number of illegal firearms with 20 weapons seized, while the Northern Range seized nine pistols and 29 live cartridges.

The statewide operation was conducted under the direct supervision of Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Sanjay Kumar.

DGP Khurania said Odisha Police remains committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring public safety, adding that similar enforcement drives against criminal and illegal mafia networks will continue in the coming days.