Operation Shastra: Delhi Police arrests 6 with illegal firearms in 24 hours
Synopsis
Delhi Police's Najafgarh unit arrested six people carrying illegal firearms in a single 24-hour window — including a murder accused wanted in Haryana — seizing five pistols and 32 cartridges. The sweep under Operation Shastra signals an intensifying crackdown on gang-linked weapons networks in Delhi's outer districts.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police arrested six individuals within 24 hours on 30 June 2026 under Operation Shastra — No Guns, No Gangs .
A total of five pistols , 32 cartridges , and one vehicle were recovered across three separate operations.
Pankaj alias Rakesh alias Kaliya, 21 , wanted in a murder case (FIR No.
65/2026) in Haryana's Jhajjar district , was among those arrested.
291, 295, and 298 of 2026 — were registered under Section 25 of the Arms Act at Najafgarh Police Station .
The operation is led by DCP Dwarka Kushal Pal Singh and Additional DCP-I Vikas Meena .
Delhi Police's Najafgarh Police Station arrested six individuals for possession of illegal firearms within 24 hours on 30 June 2026, as part of a targeted crackdown dubbed 'Operation Shastra — No Guns, No Gangs'. Among those detained was a 21-year-old wanted in a murder case registered in Haryana's Jhajjar district. In total, five pistols, 32 cartridges, and a vehicle were seized across the operations.
How the Operations Unfolded
At approximately 12:30 am, a patrol team led by Inspector O.P. Vishnoi, Bravo Najafgarh in-charge, along with Constable Bijender, flagged down a black car near Nangli Sakrawati Bus Stand on UER-II Road. The driver attempted to flee but was intercepted when police blocked the vehicle's path. Checking of the car yielded a licensed pistol, an illegal pistol, and two magazines with 11 live cartridges from Naveen, 27. A co-occupant, Kunal, 20, was found carrying three live cartridges. FIR No. 291/2026 under Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered at Najafgarh Police Station.
In a separate patrol near Ganda Nala Road, UER-II, Jai Vihar Phase-I, Najafgarh, Head Constable Jitendra Singh and Constable Durga Prasad spotted a suspicious individual and apprehended him after a brief chase. The accused, Ravi Sharma, 28, was found carrying an illegal country-made loaded pistol, a magazine, and 10 live cartridges of 7.63 mm calibre. FIR No. 295/2026 under Section 25 of the Arms Act was subsequently registered.
Wanted Murder Accused Nabbed
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Head Constable Parminder — alerted by Head Constable Dharmendra (No. 1249/DW) — moved to Prem Vihar Colony, Najafgarh, where a person wanted in FIR No. 65/2026 under murder and the Arms Act in Haryana's Jhajjar district was reportedly present. Despite an attempt to flee, the suspect was apprehended. He was identified as Pankaj alias Rakesh alias Kaliya, 21, and a country-made loaded pistol of .30 bore with one magazine containing two live cartridges was recovered from him. FIR No. 298/2026 under Section 25 of the Arms Act was registered.
The Broader Campaign
Operation Shastra is being conducted under the leadership of DCP Dwarka Kushal Pal Singh and Additional DCP-I Dwarka Vikas Meena, with the stated objective of eliminating illegal firearms and dismantling criminal gangs operating across the district. This comes amid a sustained push by Delhi Police to curb gang-related violence in the capital's outer districts, where firearm recoveries have seen a notable uptick in recent months.
What Comes Next
All six accused face charges under Section 25 of the Arms Act, with Pankaj alias Kaliya also facing extradition proceedings linked to the Haryana murder case. The operation is ongoing, and officials indicated that further arrests are expected as intelligence inputs are acted upon.
Point of View
One of them netting a murder accused from a neighbouring state, suggest that Najafgarh has become a transit corridor for illegal firearms moving between Haryana and Delhi. The 'No Guns, No Gangs' framing is politically useful, but the more telling detail is that one accused carried both a licensed and an unlicensed weapon simultaneously — pointing to a grey zone in arms licensing that enforcement alone cannot fix. The outer districts of Delhi have historically been under-policed relative to central zones; Operation Shastra's real test will be whether it sustains pressure beyond a headline sweep or fades once the news cycle moves on.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Shastra launched by Delhi Police?
Operation Shastra — No Guns, No Gangs is a special enforcement campaign by Delhi Police's Dwarka district to seize illegal firearms and dismantle criminal gangs. It is being conducted under the leadership of DCP Dwarka Kushal Pal Singh and Additional DCP-I Vikas Meena.
How many people were arrested in the Operation Shastra crackdown on 30 June 2026?
Six individuals were arrested within 24 hours on 30 June 2026 by Najafgarh Police Station personnel. Five pistols, 32 cartridges, and a vehicle were recovered across three separate operations.
Who is the murder accused arrested during Operation Shastra?
The murder accused is Pankaj alias Rakesh alias Kaliya, 21, wanted in FIR No. 65/2026 under murder and the Arms Act in Haryana's Jhajjar district. He was apprehended at Prem Vihar Colony, Najafgarh, after a brief chase, and a loaded country-made pistol was recovered from him.
What charges have been filed against those arrested?
All six accused face charges under Section 25 of the Arms Act. Three separate FIRs — Nos. 291, 295, and 298 of 2026 — have been registered at Najafgarh Police Station. Pankaj alias Kaliya additionally faces proceedings linked to the Haryana murder case.
What weapons were recovered during Operation Shastra on 30 June 2026?
Police recovered five pistols — including both licensed and illegal variants, as well as country-made firearms — along with 32 live cartridges of various calibres and one vehicle from the six arrested individuals.
