Nearly 285 people with criminal records, including history-sheeters, were arrested in a special drive conducted across Chennai, with police claiming that the operation was aimed at preventing crime and curbing the activities of habitual offenders.
They were detained during an intensive search operation carried out from Thursday, September 10 night to Friday, September 11 evening, following directions from Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj. The operation was conducted under the supervision of Deputy Commissioners and led by Assistant Commissioners, Inspectors and other police personnel.
Of the 285 people detained, 108 were from the North Zone, 38 from the West Zone, 94 from the South Zone and 45 from the East Zone.
“During the operation, the teams detained 285 individuals with criminal backgrounds, whose history sheets are maintained at various police stations in the city. They are being questioned to ascertain their current activities and possible involvement in recent offences,” a senior police officer said.
However, the police's classification of people as having “criminal backgrounds” or being history-sheeters does not, by itself, establish that they have committed a recent offence. History sheets are police records maintained on people considered to have criminal antecedents, and the use of such records for preventive policing has previously raised concerns over surveillance, arbitrary detention and the targeting of people without a specific allegation against them.
Police Commissioner Amalraj said such special drives would continue and that stringent legal action would be taken against those involved in criminal activities.
He also instructed Additional Commissioners and other senior officers to closely monitor the movements of people with criminal antecedents, dangerous offenders and those released from prison on bail.
Amalraj further directed officers to strengthen patrolling and vehicle checks and take stringent action against drunk driving.