Vijayendra Bidari, Inspector General of Police (South Zone). File
| Photo Credit: G. Moorthy
In a concerted effort, police in the Southern districts arrested 598 individuals against whom non-bailable warrants (NBWs) had been pending for a long time during Operation DragNet, which took place over five days from January 9 to 16. Additionally, another 510 individuals surrendered before the courts, fearing police action.
“Our efforts across 10 districts helped in disposal of over 1,100 warrants and also averted possible untoward incidents during the Pongal festival,” said Inspector General of Police (South Zone) Vijayendra Bidari.
The police had made a meticulous plan under Operation DragNet by collecting information about the accused, including those involved in grave offences, and arrested them by closely watching their movements.
“Usually, during Pongal festival all these absconding accused return home and in many cases it leads to untoward incidents causing tension in the locality. The operation thereby has prevented such fresh crimes,” Mr. Bidari said.
Meticulous planning
As part of the planning, the police prepared a list of long-pending NBWs by cross-checking the data from police stations with judicial records. Special police teams were then formed to update the latest whereabouts of the accused through local inquiries and inputs from beat staff.
The police also employed scientific investigation techniques and conducted a detailed analysis of digital footprints to track and trace long-absconding accused individuals.
The IG stated that instead of leaving the execution of NBWs against the accused to the local police, the data was shared across the zone so that police from different stations and districts could assist each other in apprehending them.
Inter-district coordination and sharing of real-time information was a critical factor in successfully tracking and apprehending many accused. “Such systematic verification helped in swift execution of warrants,” the IG said.
While Madurai district executed 90 NBWs, the highest number in south zone, Dindigul executed 89.
As the intensified action against the absconding accused spread by word of mouth, as many as 510 accused surrendered before the courts, he added.
Mr. Bidari said that such drives would be carried out at regular intervals for efficacious implementation of judicial processes.
Published – January 18, 2026 02:25 pm IST
