Think twice before opening a bottle inside your car on a deserted road—Ahmedabad Rural police are on high alert under their new “Shastra” initiative.
As part of the crackdown, police arrested two 50-year-old Bopal residents, Paras Malviya and Praveensinh Chavda, on Friday night after they were caught drinking inside their parked Toyota Innova along the Raj Thal–Bopal service road. Both men were taken to Bopal Police Station and placed under arrest.
“We’re ensuring that dark, isolated stretches aren’t used for drinking or other unlawful activities,” said Ahmedabad Rural SP Om Prakash Jat. “Every suspicious vehicle will be checked under Shastra.”
The warning is clear for those who have shifted their drinking sessions from farmhouses to parked cars—what once seemed a safer option is now firmly on the police radar.
Why ‘Shastra’ Was Launched
The initiative was introduced after a shocking incident near the Ambapur canal, where a youth was murdered and his girlfriend seriously injured while sitting in a parked car. The police fear such isolated areas could become hubs for drinking parties and violent crimes.
In response, DGP Vikas Sahay launched Shastra as a pilot project in Ahmedabad Rural. Under it, teams patrol empty roads at night, checking suspicious vehicles. Eight key zones across Bopal, Shilaj, and nearby areas now have barricades and round-the-clock surveillance.
SP Jat added that dedicated teams will soon intensify checks on parked cars along deserted stretches. The increased police presence at night aims not just to nab drinkers, but also to deter potential criminals.