New Delhi: In a major 72-hour enforcement drive against organised criminal networks in North Delhi, DCP (North) Niharika Bhatt led ‘Operation Chakra 72’, resulting in the arrest of 193 people and the registration of 154 cases under various criminal laws.
The operation was launched shortly after Bhatt assumed charge as DCP North. She had previously served as Additional DCP-I in the same district and was familiar with its policing challenges. The district covers several high-footfall and sensitive areas, including the Red Fort, Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Subzi Mandi, Kotwali, Civil Lines and the Delhi Assembly area.
Intelligence-Led Crackdown
Operation Chakra 72 was designed as a continuous 72-hour campaign focused on identifying and disrupting organised criminal networks. According to police officials, the operation combined intelligence gathering, surveillance, coordinated action by multiple police units, extensive searches and targeted enforcement.
The drive focused on illegal drugs, illicit liquor, weapons, gambling activities and suspected proceeds of crime. Police teams were directed to identify offenders, initiate legal proceedings and seize material linked to criminal activities.
During the operation, police registered 154 cases under the Excise Act, NDPS Act, Arms Act and Gambling Act, leading to the arrest of 193 individuals.
The anti-narcotics action resulted in the seizure of approximately 1.975 kg of cannabis, 39.2 grams of heroin, 544 grams of charas, 240 buprenorphine tablets and 500 Avil injections, according to police data.
The campaign also targeted the illicit liquor trade. Police arrested 63 people in connection with illegal liquor supply and seized 10,122 quarter bottles. Twenty-two cases were registered at different police stations across North District.
The weapons crackdown resulted in the recovery of 22 knives and a country-made pistol, with 22 people arrested in cases involving unlawful possession.
Police teams also conducted targeted searches against gambling operations. A total of 50 cases were registered and 87 people were arrested in connection with illegal gambling activities.
Part of Wider Anti-Narcotics Strategy
Operation Chakra 72 forms part of the Delhi Police’s broader campaign against organised crime and narcotics trafficking. Operations such as Operation Kavach and Operation Chakra 72 have been used to intensify enforcement against drug networks.
From January through August 2026, Delhi Police units and districts reportedly registered 1,812 cases under the NDPS Act and arrested 1,418 alleged narcotics offenders. During the period, police reported seizures of around 1,653.2 kg of marijuana, 23.3 kg of heroin, 25 kg of charas and 11 kg of opium.
In another coordinated enforcement exercise earlier this year, Delhi Police conducted a 48-hour drive across all 15 districts. The operation resulted in 315 Arms Act cases and 329 arrests linked to the possession or trafficking of illegal weapons.
Focus on Coordinated Policing
Operation Chakra 72 has placed particular emphasis on coordination between different police units and district teams. The objective is to disrupt criminal networks operating discreetly across multiple areas rather than focusing only on individual offenders.
DCP Bhatt has emphasised a zero-tolerance approach towards organised crime and other unlawful activities, with intelligence-based policing forming a key part of the strategy.
Her tenure has also included interventions in cases involving vulnerable victims. In one incident, police rescued a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly assaulted on a moving bus travelling from Uttar Pradesh. Bhatt directed her team to act without allowing jurisdictional complications to delay the response and ordered the registration of a Zero FIR.
In another case, an 18-year-old woman from Kamla Nagar who had allegedly been abducted was rescued within two hours. Five suspects were arrested in connection with the case.
From Biotechnology Research to Policing
A 2015-batch IPS officer, Niharika Bhatt is known for her analytical approach to policing and investigations. Before joining the civil services, she trained as a biotechnology engineer and worked as a full-time scientific researcher in the United States. Her professional experience also includes associations with the US Food and Drug Administration and the University of Michigan.
She has held several policing assignments, including SP South Andaman, SSP Karaikal in Puducherry, SP City Chandigarh and Additional DCP-I in Delhi’s Dwarka district. During her tenure with the Andaman and Nicobar Police, she also undertook community-policing initiatives aimed at strengthening interaction between citizens and law-enforcement agencies.
With Operation Chakra 72, North District Police has sought to combine sustained enforcement with intelligence-driven policing to weaken organised criminal networks. Police officials indicated that the campaign is expected to enter a second phase, with additional suspects and networks remaining under scrutiny.
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