Ahead of new year revelry, 297 held in all-out combing op in Mumbai, Thane

MUMBAI/THANE: As the city gears up to usher in the new year with enthusiasm, Mumbai Police arrested 131 people, including 64 externed criminals and 29 wanted/abscondi-ng accused, in a four-hour all-out combing operation in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. The action will continue till January 1.
Teams under the five regional additional commissioners (East, West, Central, South, and North) - under which 13 zonal deputy commissioners of police function and supervise 94 police stations - searched 223 places across the city and examined 1,471 people with criminal backgrounds to gather intelligence on any suspicious activity by anti-social elements.

Checks were conducted at bus stops, railway stations, dilapidated buildings/houses, abandoned vehicles, shanties and even hotels and lodges. While 164 cases were filed under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and 31 cases were registered under the Arms Act for illegal possession of weapons like knives and swords. Nakabandis were held at 178 places across the city and 2,300 motorists were booked for rash driving and 60 for drunk driving.
"Mumbai Police is geared up to the task ahead and has launched an all-out operation against known criminals and lawbreakers and shall ensure a peaceful December 31 night for Mumbaikars," police commissioner Vivek Phansalkar told TOI.
Similarly, Thane police arrested 166 people, including 12 externed criminals and three wanted/absconding accused, in the all-out combing operation undertaken by over 1,300 cops from Thursday 8pm to Friday 1am. "The idea of this operation was to deter anti-social elements from causing any nuisance during new year celebrations," said Ashok Morale, additional commissioner of police (crime).
Of the 166 arrests, 19 were booked under the NDPS Act and five under the Arms Act. As many as 1,790 traffic violators were booked and fined a total Rs 11.6 lakh.
Government Railway Police have announced a massive bandobast of over 6,000 personnel, including two DCPs, four ACPs, 114 officers, constables, home guards and Maharashtra Security Force personnel. Bomb detection and disposal teams will carry out checks at railway termini. Two anti-rioting teams, Quick Response teams and striking teams have also been stationed.