Chennai Police arrested 70 people identified as habitual offenders or wanted in pending cases during an overnight crime-prevention operation, according to a report by Dinamalar. The action followed two recent killings in the city that had raised concerns about public safety.
The operation, described as “Operation Drive”, was conducted through the night across Chennai. Police teams reportedly focused on people known to be involved in repeated offences, as well as individuals against whom arrest warrants had been issued and who had not appeared before court.
The reported arrests came after the killing of Pradeep Raj, 30, a film supporting actor. He was allegedly murdered during a dispute linked to money borrowed at interest, the report said. Raj had reportedly lodged a complaint at the Tiruvottiyur police station alleging that he had received death threats. He was killed the following day, according to the report.
Four people have been arrested in connection with Raj’s killing and are being questioned, Dinamalar reported. The report did not provide further details about the charges or the status of the investigation.
A separate killing was reported in Besant Nagar, where Kannan, 45, described as an office-bearer of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, was allegedly murdered over a previous dispute. Five people were arrested in that case, according to the report.
The two incidents occurred in succession and prompted the police to intensify preventive action across the city. During the overnight operation, officers searched for alleged rowdies and others considered repeatedly involved in criminal activity. The reported arrests also included people who had remained absent despite court warrants.
The operation represents a preventive policing response rather than a single investigation. The report said the police action was intended to reduce further offences by identifying and taking into custody people considered potential repeat offenders. It did not specify the number of police personnel involved, the areas covered, the offences registered against all 70 people, or how many of those arrested were wanted under court warrants.
The two murder investigations remain separate from the wider overnight operation. Four arrests have been reported in the Tiruvottiyur-linked case and five in the Besant Nagar case, while the police have not publicly detailed the individual cases involving the remaining people arrested in the citywide drive in the supplied report.
