Gujarat Police arrests 190 in 24-hour Rath Yatra crackdown, nabs fugitives missing 21 years
Synopsis
Two men who had evaded Gujarat Police for 21 and 20 years respectively were among 190 arrested in a single 24-hour sweep across Ahmedabad's Zone 7 — a pre-Rath Yatra crackdown that stretched across five states and deployed 341 officers in 43 teams. One of the long-wanted accused had been presumed dead.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad City Police arrested 190 accused in Operation Clean Sweep 2.0 between 5–6 July .
The operation covered all eight police stations under Zone 7 , deploying 341 officers across 43 teams .
A man wanted since 2005 in a counterfeit currency case and another wanted since 2006 in a theft case were among those arrested.
The second long-absconding accused was traced to Uttar Pradesh ; one other had been presumed dead after more than 10 years on the run.
Arrests spanned five states: Maharashtra , Rajasthan , Madhya Pradesh , Uttar Pradesh , and Uttarakhand .
Police said similar operations will continue in the run-up to major public events.
Ahmedabad City Police arrested 190 accused in a single 24-hour special operation across Zone 7 on 5–6 July, ahead of the annual Rath Yatra festival, including two long-absconding men wanted for 21 years and 20 years respectively. The sweep, dubbed Operation Clean Sweep 2.0, was conducted under a special action plan drawn up by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 7) Shivam Verma.
Scale and Deployment
The operation ran from 8 am on 5 July to 6 July, spanning all eight police stations under Zone 7. A total of 341 officers and personnel — comprising eight Police Inspectors, 37 Police Sub-Inspectors, and 261 police personnel — were deployed across 43 teams. Separate units operated outside Ahmedabad, using human intelligence and technical surveillance to track suspects believed to have fled to other states.
Breakdown of Arrests
Of the 190 people detained, 83 were absconding accused wanted in ongoing investigations, 54 were wanted under Non-Bailable Warrants, 28 were arrested in prohibition cases, 11 were booked under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act for drunk driving, and five were externed offenders. Police noted that 22 of those arrested had been absconding for more than a year.
Two Decades on the Run
Among the most significant arrests was a man wanted since 2005 by Satellite Police Station in a counterfeit currency case, who had evaded law enforcement for 21 years before being nabbed by the Zone Local Crime Branch. A second accused, wanted by Vejalpur Police Station in a 2006 theft case, was traced to Uttar Pradesh and arrested after allegedly remaining at large for 20 years. One accused linked to a house-breaking case had been wanted for more than 10 years and had reportedly been presumed dead.
Geographic Reach of the Operation
Raids extended well beyond Ahmedabad city, covering Rajkot, Kutch, Junagadh, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, and Banaskantha within Gujarat, as well as operations in Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Vehicle checks using breath analysers were conducted at entry and exit points and sensitive locations, while raids targeted suspected bootlegging networks based on intelligence inputs.
What the Police Said
DCP Shivam Verma said the operation was directly tied to the security build-up for the Rath Yatra. 'Under the guidance of Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut, and in view of the ongoing Rath Yatra, the police are on high alert. As part of this, Zone 7 Police, comprising eight police stations, launched Operation Clean Sweep 2.0. Under the operation, we apprehended a total of 190 accused,' Verma said. Police confirmed that similar crackdowns against wanted criminals and anti-social elements will continue ahead of major public events.
Point of View
One of them in a counterfeit currency case serious enough to have warranted a long-standing warrant. The fact that such fugitives are only surfaced ahead of high-visibility festivals raises a legitimate question about whether these crackdowns reflect genuine investigative momentum or periodic optics. That said, the cross-state reach and the sheer number of Non-Bailable Warrant executions suggest a degree of coordination that routine policing rarely achieves. The real test is whether the momentum outlasts the Rath Yatra.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was Operation Clean Sweep 2.0 in Ahmedabad?
Operation Clean Sweep 2.0 was a 24-hour special police operation conducted by Ahmedabad City Police across Zone 7 from 5 to 6 July, ahead of the annual Rath Yatra. It resulted in the arrest of 190 accused, including long-absconding fugitives, drunk drivers, and prohibition offenders, with 341 officers deployed across 43 teams.
Who were the longest-absconding accused arrested in the operation?
A man wanted since 2005 by Satellite Police Station in a counterfeit currency case was arrested after 21 years on the run, while another accused wanted by Vejalpur Police Station in a 2006 theft case was traced to Uttar Pradesh and arrested after 20 years. A third accused linked to a house-breaking case had been wanted for over 10 years and was reportedly presumed dead.
Why was the operation launched before Rath Yatra?
DCP Shivam Verma said the operation was part of heightened security measures ahead of the Rath Yatra festival. Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut ordered an intensified drive to remove absconding criminals and anti-social elements from the area before the large public gathering.
Which states were covered in the operation?
Beyond Ahmedabad, the operation extended to Rajkot, Kutch, Junagadh, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, and Banaskantha within Gujarat, and to Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. Human intelligence and technical surveillance were used to trace suspects who had fled the state.
What categories of offenders were targeted?
Teams targeted absconding accused in ongoing investigations, Non-Bailable Warrant offenders, externed offenders, jail absconders, prohibition offenders, and drunk drivers. Police also acted against persons who had violated externment orders or failed to surrender after parole, furlough, or interim bail.
