Chennai: Police questioned more than 15,000 criminal suspects during a two-day statewide special drive on Monday and Tuesday and arrested more than 400 of them. In addition to the arrests, several cases were registered for drug offences, traffic violations and public nuisance. The drive was conducted following the series of murders reported on Sunday.
Police said among those questioned across the state, 8,626 were listed rowdies. Of them, 443 were remanded in judicial custody, while Legal Action Reports were initiated against 796 habitual offenders for preventive surveillance. The police also checked 1,624 drug offenders and arrested 77 people for drug peddling. Traffic enforcement teams booked 2,865 cases of drunk driving, 1,243 cases of rash driving and 998 overspeeding violations. Drone patrols were conducted across districts and cities, leading to 1,859 cases being registered for drinking in public places and 195 people being remanded, police said. In Chennai, police detained 222 people and arrested 36. In Avadi, police questioned 227 people and remanded 25, while in Chengunram, 112 people were checked and 23 were remanded. Action was also taken against 17 people under Section 75 of the Tamil Nadu City Police Act, while 56 were warned of strict action and let off by Avadi Commissioner T Senthilkumar. In central zone comprising Trichy and neighbouring districts, police conducted searches in more than 600 houses of history-sheeters in two days. Police said they have registered 32 cases and arrested 34 criminals.
Chennai commissioner A Amalraj directed special teams led by inspectors to conduct the checks under the supervision of deputy commissioners. There was a similar crackdown on habitual offenders in Madurai and Coimbatore as well.