Ahmedabad Police will use public address systems during future late-night combing operations to reassure residents that the drives are aimed at criminals and anti-social elements, and not at law-abiding citizens.
The decision follows a major citywide combing and vehicle-checking operation conducted from midnight on Thursday to early Friday. The drive covered several areas, including Sindhu Bhavan Road, SG Highway, Sarkhej and Behrampura.
Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut personally monitored the operation, which involved thousands of personnel from different units. Gahlaut said the use of public address systems would help communicate the purpose of such operations to residents.
“We are now going to use public address systems to announce that the common public at large does not need to fear. We are after anti-social elements, criminals and those involved in illegal activities such as drug peddling and carrying illegal arms. The night combing operations will continue until we flush out criminals and anti-social elements from the city,” he said.
Over 4,700 vehicles checked
The five-hour operation, conducted between midnight and 5 am, covered 59 locations across Ahmedabad. Teams from the Crime Branch, Special Operations Group and local police conducted simultaneous vehicle checks, searched suspicious locations and verified the presence of history-sheeters and repeat offenders.
A total of 4,712 vehicles were checked during the operation. Police took action in cases involving missing documents, drunk driving, illegal weapons, prohibited liquor and narcotics.
Officers also carried out physical verification of 199 history-sheeters and Most Crime Recorded offenders living in different parts of the city.
Police plan sustained night operations
The operation was conducted under the supervision of senior police officers, including three Joint Commissioners of Police, three Additional DCPs, 15 DCPs, 23 ACPs and 80 police inspectors, along with nearly 2,000 personnel.
Senior officers said such night combing operations are expected to continue as part of a sustained policing strategy targeting habitual offenders, drug traffickers, bootleggers and criminals involved in illegal arms activities.
Police said the objective is to strengthen surveillance and prevent criminal activity while ensuring that ordinary residents are not unnecessarily inconvenienced during the late-night checks.