Raipur Commissionerate Police arrested 82 people facing permanent warrants and seized contraband, weapons and other material worth around Rs 17.30 lakh during a week-long enforcement drive under Operation Vishwas.

The campaign was conducted across the North, West and Central zones of Raipur from August 24 to 30, with police teams focusing on wanted persons, illegal liquor, narcotics, weapons and other activities linked to crime and public disorder.

According to the information released about the operation, police registered 167 cases under the Excise Act and took action against 167 accused. Enforcement was also carried out in 203 cases under Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and 211 cases under Sections 126/135 of the BNS.

82 permanent warrant accused arrested

One of the major outcomes of the campaign was the arrest of 82 people against whom permanent warrants were pending. Police also conducted checks of known offenders, including habitual criminals, listed goons and surveillance-listed individuals.

Authorities said the exercise was aimed at identifying people involved in criminal activities and preventing repeat offences through intensified field-level monitoring.

60 kg-plus cannabis seized

The campaign also resulted in significant seizures of narcotics and other prohibited substances.

Police recovered 60.339 kg of cannabis, 1,590 banned intoxicant tablets and 10.59 grams of heroin, besides 273 pouches of country-made liquor.

The West Zone recorded the largest narcotics-related seizure during the drive. Police also seized three mobile phones and a Scorpio vehicle in connection with the action.

20 knives and sharp weapons recovered

Raipur police also intensified checks against people carrying knives and other sharp-edged weapons in public places.

A total of 20 cases were registered under the Arms Act, with 20 accused facing action. Police recovered 20 knives and other sharp weapons during these operations.

Of the weapons seized, 12 were recovered in the West Zone, while six were seized in the Central Zone and two in the North Zone.

Checks on habitual offenders

As part of Operation Vishwas, police teams also verified the activities and whereabouts of known offenders.

In the North Zone alone, 62 listed goons and 32 surveillance-listed offenders were checked. The exercise was intended to keep track of people considered vulnerable to involvement in further criminal activity.

The police said such verification and enforcement measures are part of efforts to strengthen preventive policing across the commissionerate.

Campaign to continue

The week-long operation brought together action against wanted persons, illegal liquor, narcotics and illegal weapons under a coordinated enforcement drive.

Police officials said Operation Vishwas will continue, with further action planned against criminals and individuals involved in anti-social activities in the Raipur Commissionerate area.

The latest campaign comes amid increased focus on preventive policing and enforcement against repeat offenders, particularly through warrant execution, surveillance and checks in areas considered vulnerable to criminal activity.

A youth was arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Rewa district after allegedly posting a video on social media in which he was seen brandishing an illegal pistol in an apparent attempt to project influence and intimidate people. Following his arrest, police conducted a public parade of the accused as part of their crackdown on the public display of illegal firearms.

The accused, identified as Akshat Soni, a resident of Nipania village under the Bichhiya police station limits, was taken into custody on Saturday after police recovered an illegal pistol and a live cartridge from his possession.

Video Triggered Police Action

According to police, the investigation began after a video showing the accused holding and displaying a pistol went viral on social media. The footage allegedly showed him flaunting the weapon to create fear and build an intimidating image online.

Bichhiya Station House Officer Ankita Mishra said the police identified the accused through the viral video and launched a search operation. After the clip surfaced, the accused allegedly remained on the run in an attempt to evade arrest.

Arrest Made After Intelligence Input

Police later received information that the accused was moving around the Laxman Bagh area while carrying the illegal firearm.

Acting on the tip-off, a police team reached the location, cordoned off the area and arrested the accused. During the search, officers recovered one illegal pistol along with a live cartridge.

Case Registered Under Arms Act

Following the recovery, police registered a case against the accused under the Arms Act.

Investigators are now questioning him to determine the source of the weapon and whether it is linked to any broader illegal arms network. Officials said the investigation is focused on identifying how the firearm was procured and whether others were involved.

Police Conduct Public Parade

After the arrest, police took the accused through a public procession in the city, describing it as a message against the misuse of social media for displaying illegal weapons and creating fear among the public.

Police officials said strict action would continue against individuals who use social media platforms to glorify criminal behaviour, display illegal firearms or disturb public order.

The incident comes amid increasing police action across Madhya Pradesh against individuals who post videos featuring weapons or engage in activities intended to gain online popularity through unlawful conduct.

Tip-off leads to raid

Rewa’s Saman police carried out a late evening operation on Tuesday, arresting two individuals allegedly involved in illegal arms trafficking. The arrests were made near Bansagar Talaiya, a relatively secluded spot on the outskirts of the city. Acting on specific intelligence, a team laid a brief cordon and intercepted the suspects, who were reportedly waiting for potential customers.

Yellow bag, quick chase

According to officials, the two men were standing near the water body, holding a distinct yellow bag. When the police party approached, they attempted to flee. “Our team gave them a short chase before apprehending them near some roadside shrubs,” a local police source said. Upon searching the yellow bag, the police recovered four firearms: two country-made pistols (12 bore, commonly known as desi katta) and two country-made revolvers.

Rented accommodation under scanner

The accused have been identified as Sameer Khan (26), a resident of the Bichiya area, and Ritesh Dubey alias Lucky (25), originally from Mangawan police station limits. Preliminary interrogation revealed that both were currently living together in a rented house in Bichiya. They were unable to produce any valid documentation or licence for the weapons. Police have registered a case against them under Section 25(1)(A) of the Arms Act.

Why this matters

The recovery of four firearms from a single spot has raised concerns about the easy availability of cheap, illegal weapons in the region. While Rewa is not traditionally a major hub for arms smuggling compared to districts like Satna or Khargone, police say such seizures often spike ahead of local festivals or civic elections. The fact that the men were openly waiting with a stockpile suggests a ready local market.

Source and buyer network probed

Nagar Police Superintendent Rajeev Pathak is personally monitoring the investigation, officials said. While the arrests were swift, the bigger challenge now is to dismantle the supply chain. Police are interrogating the duo to ascertain where the consignment originated—possibly from the Bihar or Uttar Pradesh belt—and who the intended recipients were. Investigators are also scanning their call records to identify potential customers.

What’s next

At this stage, the police have not ruled out the possibility of more arrests. “We are looking into whether they were part of a larger network that supplies weapons to criminals in the district,” an officer involved in the probe said. The two accused were produced before a local court, which remanded them to police custody for further interrogation. A court-ordered parade is also likely to verify if the weapons had been used in any unsolved crime.

Operation Nishchay Nets 46 Wanted Criminals Across Raipur Range

Chhattisgarh Police Deploy 95 Teams in Five Districts, Seize Drugs, Liquor, and Weapons in Sweeping Two-Day Crackdown

In one of the most coordinated law enforcement drives in recent months, the Raipur Range Police executed a sweeping two-day crackdown under Operation Nishchay, targeting criminal networks across five districts of Chhattisgarh. The joint operation, conducted on April 4 and 5, mobilised 95 teams simultaneously across Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, and Raipur Rural districts.

Scale of the Operation

A total of 384 raids, searches, and checkpost operations were carried out over the 48-hour window. The sheer scale of the deployment signals the Raipur Range's intent to dismantle entrenched criminal activity in both urban fringes and rural belts. According to police officials, the operation was planned with prior intelligence inputs and coordinated at the range headquarters level.

Liquor and Drugs Seized

The drive yielded significant recoveries on the narcotics and liquor front. Under the Excise Act, 126 cases were registered and an equal number of accused were taken into custody. Seized liquor stocks amounted to 802.436 litres of country and foreign liquor, along with 597 quarter bottles.

On the narcotics front, 22 NDPS Act cases were filed, with police recovering 21.945 kilograms of contraband substances and 60 tablets suspected to be psychotropic drugs. Ganja formed a bulk of the seized narcotic material, as per reports from district units.

Weapons Recovered, Warrants Served

Six cases were registered under the Arms Act, with police seizing two pistols during the course of the operation. The recovery of firearms from civilians in rural districts has been flagged as a priority concern in the range's anti-crime strategy.

Parallel to the seizures, a dedicated warrant execution drive was run alongside the raids. Teams served a combined 46 warrants — comprising 31 arrest warrants, 14 permanent warrants, and 1 bailable warrant — leading to the apprehension of 46 wanted individuals who had been evading the law.

District-Wise Breakdown

Each district contributed significantly to the overall tally:

• Balodabazar-Bhatapara — 13 NDPS cases filed; 5.6 kg of narcotics seized

• Gariaband — 119 raids conducted; 158 litres of liquor recovered

• Dhamtari — 150 locations covered; 3.9 kg of contraband seized

• Mahasamund — 10.5 kg of drugs and 357 litres of liquor recovered

• Raipur Rural — 1.8 kg of ganja and 597 quarter bottles seized

Additionally, 174 actions were taken under various preventive and prohibitory sections.

Gambling Rackets Busted

Two cases were also registered under the Gambling Act, with seven accused arrested and cash amounting to ₹6,230 seized from illegal betting and gambling dens. Four separate criminal cases were also pursued by respective district units as part of the broader operation.

Official Statement

Police officials confirmed that Operation Nishchay is not a one-time exercise. "The drive against anti-social elements, smugglers, and absconders will continue with equal intensity," a senior officer said, adding that maintaining law and order across the Raipur Range remains the department's foremost priority.

What Comes Next

Authorities indicated that further crackdowns are planned based on leads generated during this operation. With dozens of wanted persons now in custody and substantial contraband off the streets, investigators are expected to pursue leads that could unravel larger supply chains behind drug trafficking in the region. The operation is being seen as a template for future range-level coordinated drives across Chhattisgarh.