Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Monday, 13 July directed the state Police Department to adopt a zero-tolerance stance on crime, warning that Range Inspectors General (IGs) and Superintendents of Police (SPs) will be held directly accountable for law and order in their respective jurisdictions. The directive came during a high-level review meeting chaired by Sharma at his Jaipur residence.

Key Directives from the Review Meeting

Sharma instructed officers to move beyond routine arrests and focus on dismantling entire criminal networks involved in organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and illegal arms smuggling. He emphasised that police action must be swift, decisive, and stringent enough to serve as a genuine deterrent. Officers failing to meet expected outcomes, he said, would be held personally accountable.

During the review, the Chief Minister sought explanations from police officials regarding recent criminal incidents in Alwar, Sri Ganganagar, and Bharatpur. Acting on his directions, a notice was issued to a senior officer in connection with the encroachment of pasture land in Gogunda.

Crackdown on Organised Crime and Illegal Arms

Sharma acknowledged that organised crime and firing incidents have declined compared to 2023, but stressed that the pace of reduction must be accelerated. He cautioned that even a single major criminal incident can damage public confidence and the state's image. To tighten the screws on organised crime, he directed special campaigns targeting the illegal arms supply chain — particularly in districts with a higher incidence of Arms Act cases — and ordered that investigations trace weapons back to their suppliers and masterminds.

The Chief Minister also ordered strict action against land mafia activities, hawala transactions, and other illicit funding channels. Officials were directed to expedite the attachment, seizure, and demolition of properties illegally acquired by drug traffickers.

Cybercrime and Crimes Against Women

On cybercrime, Sharma called for intensified cyber patrolling and the strengthening of cyber cells with specialised personnel. He demanded prompt action against digital arrest scams and online financial fraud, stating that no cybercrime network should be permitted to operate from Rajasthan.

Describing crimes against women and children as the highest priority, the Chief Minister directed police to ensure speedy investigations, swift prosecutions, and strict punishment for offenders, while maintaining sensitivity towards victims.

Accountability and Public-Police Coordination

All Range IGs and SPs were instructed to personally review pending cases related to the NDPS Act, organised crime, gangsters, history-sheeters, and illegal arms, and ensure their disposal within stipulated timelines. Sharma also directed that Community Liaison Group (CLG) meetings be held regularly in every district to strengthen public-police coordination, with Police Headquarters tasked with monitoring these sessions and ensuring timely redressal of citizen grievances.

The meeting was attended by senior officials from the Chief Minister's Office, the Home Department, and the Police Department, including the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police. Range IGs and SPs from across the state joined via videoconferencing. How swiftly field officers translate these directives into measurable outcomes will determine whether this review marks a genuine inflection point in Rajasthan's law and order record.