Operation Rambo: Surat Police detain 73 in city-wide illegal weapons crackdown
Synopsis
Surat Police's 'Operation Rambo' wasn't a routine patrol — it was a data-driven sweep that put 73 people, many with records spanning murder to GUJCTOC offences, off the streets in a single night. With Limbayat alone accounting for 14 cases, the operation maps exactly where Surat's bladed-weapon problem is most acute.
Key Takeaways
Surat City Police detained 73 people during Operation Rambo on 20 May 2025 .
72 detainees were caught allegedly carrying illegal bladed weapons; 1 was an externed offender.
The drive covered 12 police station jurisdictions , with Limbayat recording the most cases ( 14 ).
Several detainees had prior records in murder, double murder, robbery, narcotics, and GUJCTOC offences.
A total of 72 cases were registered under Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act .
The operation was ordered by Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot and executed by the city's SOG .
Surat City Police detained 73 people — including several repeat offenders with prior cases in murder, robbery, and narcotics — during a sweeping city-wide anti-weapons drive called 'Operation Rambo' on 20 May 2025. The crackdown, executed by the city's Special Operations Group (SOG), targeted illegal possession of bladed weapons across 12 police station jurisdictions in Surat.
What Triggered the Operation
Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot ordered the drive after a pattern emerged linking the use of deadly bladed weapons — including swords, knives, daggers, and so-called 'Rampuri' knives — to a rise in serious offences across the city. The directive tasked the SOG with strictly enforcing the weapon prohibition notification already in force in Surat against persons accused of spreading disorder and public fear.
How the Operation Was Conducted
SOG Deputy Police Commissioner Rajdipsinh Nakum and Police Inspector A.S. Sonara first collated and analysed crime data from police station areas that had recently recorded offences including assault, murder, and robbery. Based on that analysis, separate raiding teams were formed under SOG Police Inspectors M.M. Parmar and K.A. Savaliya.
The teams conducted surprise checks in identified crime-prone pockets within the limits of Limbayat, Udhna, Chokbazar, Athwa, Bhestan, Puna, Mahidharpura, Godadara, Rander, Salabatpura, Adajan, and Lalgate. Suspicious individuals and persons previously arrested in criminal cases were specifically targeted for checking.
Key Arrests and Cases Registered
72 of the 73 detainees were apprehended while allegedly carrying deadly weapons — knives, 'Rambo' knives, daggers, and swords. Cases were filed against them under Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act for violating the commissioner's weapon prohibition notification. One additional person, an externed offender, was detained separately for breaching his externment order, bringing the total to 73.
Among those detained, several had prior bookings for offences including murder, double murder, attempt to murder, mobile snatching, theft, assault, robbery, illegal weapons charges, narcotics cases, and offences under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GUJCTOC). One accused was reportedly wanted in an assault case at Dindoli police station, while another had been externed in connection with GUJCTOC and double murder offences.
Area-Wise Breakdown
Limbayat recorded the highest number of cases at 14, followed by Bhestan with 13 and Salabatpura with 11. Rander accounted for 9 cases; Godadara for 6; Chokbazar and Athwa registered 5 cases each. Mahidharpura and Lalgate each recorded 3 cases, while Udhna, Puna, and Adajan registered 1 case each. In total, 72 cases under Section 135 were registered during the drive.
What Police Said
'Surat City Police remains continuously committed to maintaining law and order and ensuring the safety of citizens. Any activity disturbing public peace will not be tolerated, and such special drives and combing operations will continue to be conducted regularly in the future,' officials stated. The police emphasised that the checks were conducted in public places and sensitive areas with a deliberate focus on deterring anti-social elements and strengthening residents' trust.
Point of View
But the area-wise data it generated is more telling than the arrest count. Limbayat, Bhestan, and Salabatpura together account for more than half the cases, pointing to concentrated pockets of armed disorder rather than a city-wide problem. The deeper question is whether one-night sweeps dislodge entrenched networks or merely temporarily displace them — particularly when several of those detained already carry GUJCTOC histories, suggesting the system had prior notice of their threat. Sustained, intelligence-led pressure on these specific zones would matter more than periodic headline operations.
NationPress
5 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Rambo launched by Surat Police?
Operation Rambo is a special anti-weapons crackdown organised by the Surat City Police's Special Operations Group (SOG) on 20 May 2025, targeting illegal possession of bladed weapons across 12 police station areas. The drive was ordered by Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot following a rise in serious crimes involving swords, knives, and daggers.
How many people were detained in Operation Rambo in Surat?
A total of 73 people were detained during Operation Rambo. Of these, 72 were apprehended for allegedly carrying illegal bladed weapons, and one was detained for violating an externment order.
Which areas of Surat saw the most arrests during the operation?
Limbayat recorded the highest number of cases at 14, followed by Bhestan with 13 and Salabatpura with 11. Rander accounted for 9 cases, and Godadara for 6.
What charges were filed against those detained?
Cases were registered under Section 135 of the Gujarat Police Act for violating the police commissioner's weapon prohibition notification. A separate case was also filed against the externed offender for breaching his externment order.
Who among the detainees had prior criminal records?
Several of those detained had previously been booked for serious offences including murder, double murder, attempt to murder, robbery, narcotics cases, and offences under the Gujarat Control of Terrorism and Organised Crime Act (GUJCTOC). One accused was reportedly wanted in an assault case at Dindoli police station.
