‘Operation Divya Prahar’ lands drug mafia a Rs 62.7 crore blow in Jhalawar, Rajasthan
Jhalawar Police’s ‘Operation Divya Prahar’ cracks down on drug networks with a zero-tolerance strategy, freezing illegal assets, seizing narcotics worth crores and demolishing encroachments to deliver a ₹62.71-crore blow to the drug mafia.
In a major crackdown on narcotics networks, the Jhalawar Police in Rajasthan have launched a special drive, ‘Operation Divya Prahar’, adopting a strict “zero tolerance” approach toward drug trafficking. Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar said the campaign has delivered a big blow to the drug mafia, targeting not only the smugglers but also the financial networks built through illegal earnings.
Kumar told The Indian Express that for several months, the Modus Operandi (MO) Branch of the SP office had been secretly compiling a detailed record of movable and immovable properties acquired with drug money by traffickers in the district. This intelligence was shared with police officers, who carried out discreet field inquiries, verified ownership details and initiated action to freeze these illegal assets.
A four-member team was constituted — Head Constables Hemant Sharma and Pinku Mairotha from SPO Jhalawar, Constable Vikas Kumar Sharma from the Cyber Police Station and Constable Nitesh Yadav from the Cyber Team — who were instructed to maintain complete secrecy while assisting station-level officers in financial probes and freezing operations.
Following direction of District Collector Ajay Singh Rathore, officials from the Revenue Department verified land-related documents, while the Public Works Department assessed the market value of the identified properties. Over the past three months, coordinated action was taken against drug mafia across the district.
According to the SP, the operation has dealt a financial blow of nearly ₹62.71 crore to the drug mafia in the past four months. This includes the recovery of narcotics valued at ₹8.40 crore in the international market, seizure of vehicles worth ₹4 crore and demolition of illegal encroachments on government land valued at over ₹50 crore.
During various operations, the police seized 3.418 kg of smack, 4.783 kg of opium, 131.383 kg of ganja, 485.051 kg of doda chura, 482 grams of hashish and 62.21 grams of MDM. In total, 78 NDPS cases were registered and 128 traffickers were arrested and sent to jail. The seized vehicles include 16 two-wheelers, 10 cars and pickups, a truck carrying 25 tonnes of iron rods and a container, collectively worth around ₹4 crore. In eight cases involving traffickers preparing to buy or sell commercial quantities of drugs, the police recovered Rs 31.9 lakh in cash.
The administration also demolished illegal structures constructed by smugglers on government land, valued at over ₹50 crore. So far, eight such demolitions have been carried out with heavy police deployment. Station House Officers have sent proposals to freeze the identified properties under Section 68(F) of the NDPS Act, which have been approved by the Competent Authority in Delhi. With this, the traffickers are now legally barred from selling or using these assets, sending a clear message that properties acquired with drug money are neither permanent nor immune from legal action.
SP Kumar said Operation Divya Prahar is not just an effort to arrest offenders but an example of how economic destruction can dismantle the influence of those who have damaged countless families through drugs. To ensure effective prosecution, police station officers have also been designated as case officers in major court cases linked to the arrested traffickers, ensuring smooth coordination during trials and helping secure strict punishment for the accused.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
