The Delhi Police Special Cell has dismantled Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-linked gangster network during its large-scale crackdown, “Operation Gang Bust–2”, conducted over the last 48 hours.
Officials described the operation as intelligence-led and highly coordinated, targeting organised crime syndicates that had either remained active or resurfaced after previous crackdowns, particularly those who had evaded action in January, officials said on Thursday. The operation was carried out following extensive surveillance, reconnaissance and intelligence gathering.
Addressing the media, Additional Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Kushwaha said the operation exposed significant cross-border links tied to organised crime. “The operation led to the busting of an ISI-sponsored Shahzad Bhatti gang module. Key members of the network have been identified and arrested, exposing cross-border linkages behind organised criminal activities,” he said.
According to the police, nearly 1,000 teams were simultaneously deployed across multiple locations. Acting on 483 identified targets, the teams focused on shooters, arms suppliers, social media handlers and local gang operatives involved in sustaining criminal networks across Delhi and neighbouring states.
During the crackdown, the police raided 1,014 hideouts, including suspected safe houses and operational hubs used by gang members. The raids led to 481 detentions and apprehensions, dealing a major blow to several organised crime syndicates.
The police recovered 130 illegal weapons and 214 cartridges during the raids, highlighting the scale of illegal arms circulation among criminal groups. The authorities also seized Rs 19 lakh, believed to be linked to criminal proceeds, along with 34 vehicles allegedly used for transporting weapons, gang members and carrying out criminal activities.
The operation further exposed the gangs’ involvement in narcotics and illicit liquor trade. The police recovered 19 kg of narcotics and nearly 700 units of illicit liquor, indicating that several syndicates were running parallel illegal businesses to expand their revenue streams.
More than 30 gangsters associated with notorious criminal outfits, including the Hashim Baba gang and the Tillu Tajpuria gang, were arrested. Officials said these gangs had been involved in extortion, contract killings, illegal arms supply and drug trafficking, and the arrests are expected to significantly weaken their networks.
