To neutralise potential threats ahead of polling day, police target body offenders, bootleggers, and absconding and wanted accused
Police officers said the action was focused on categories considered most vulnerable to poll-related disturbances. Representation Pic/Atul Kamble
In the crucial hours leading up to polling day, the Mumbai Police force took steps to secure the streets, launching an extensive preventive crackdown. The operation, conducted from the night of January 13 till late January 14, was aimed at neutralising potential threats before voting began.
Police officers said the action was part of election bandobast and focused on categories considered most vulnerable to poll-related disturbances — known body offenders, drug-related cases, bootlegging networks, and absconding and wanted accused.
According to official records, 8884 body offenders are on police rolls across Mumbai. During the election-eve operation, 576 such offenders were selectively checked, and 30 preventive actions were initiated. Officers said the checks were intelligence-led, based on local inputs and vulnerability mapping to ensure deterrence ahead of polling.
The preventive drive also saw intensified enforcement under the NDPS Act, an area of concern during elections. Police registered 377 drug possession cases under the Act and arrested 21 accused. Records show 2143 NDPS accused are on file, of whom 242 were checked during the drive, leading to seven preventive actions.
A parallel crackdown targeted illicit liquor, often linked to voter inducement. Police booked 289 illegal liquor cases, arrested 13 persons, and seized 16.33 litres of liquor, valued at '33,130. Officers said cutting off liquor supply ahead of polling was a key objective of the operation.
Significantly, police tightened the net around fugitives. Of the 5,907 absconders on record, 263 were checked, resulting in 19 absconders being successfully traced. Similarly, checks on 15,715 wanted individuals led to the location of 15 persons during the drive.
Senior police officers said the action was preventive, not reactive. “Polling day demands absolute control over law and order. The idea was to act before any disruption could take place,” an officer said.
The Mumbai Police said heightened surveillance, nakabandis and patrolling will continue through polling hours today to ensure a peaceful and incident-free civic election.
16.33 litres
Amount of liquor seized during Mumbai Police’s crackdown
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