Delhi Police Draws the Line with Operation Shastra Against Digital Fear

The Delhi Police has launched a major city-wide crackdown called Operation Shastra to tackle the growing misuse of social media platforms for intimidation and fear-mongering. Announced on February 7, 2026, the operation focuses on individuals who post photos with weapons, use abusive language, or project criminal dominance online. Police officials believe such online behaviour often fuels real-world law and order issues. The operation aims to restore public confidence and send a strong message that digital threats will face strict legal action.

Why Delhi Police Launched Operation Shastra

• According to the Delhi Police, social media is increasingly being used to signal criminal power and create psychological fear among the public.
• S K Jain, Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range), stated that the focus is on individuals attempting to establish dominance or intimidate rivals through online posts. Such content, though digital, often escalates into physical violence.
• Operation Shastra is designed as a preventive step to stop crimes before they happen.

Focus on Fear and Criminal Signalling Online

• The core objective of Operation Shastra is to curb fear-mongering through social media.
• Posting images with firearms, sharp weapons, or threatening captions creates an atmosphere of insecurity.
• Police officials noted that this kind of online conduct can provoke gang rivalries and influence vulnerable youth.
• By identifying and acting against such profiles early, the Delhi Police aims to break the link between online intimidation and offline crime.

Large-Scale Mobilization and Coordinated Policing

• Operation Shastra involved massive mobilization of police resources across Delhi.
• More than 500 police teams and over 2,000 personnel were deployed simultaneously.
• This coordinated approach allowed police to monitor, verify, and act against suspicious online activities within a short period.
• Such large-scale operations reflect how modern policing now integrates cyber surveillance with ground-level enforcement, making law enforcement faster and more effective.

FIRs Registered and Accused Apprehended

• During the operation, the Delhi Police scrutinized over 6,000 social media profiles.
• Based on verified evidence, 61 FIRs were registered under relevant provisions of the IPC and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
• Following this, 83 accused persons were apprehended. These enforcement outcomes underline the seriousness with which authorities are treating online threats. The police clarified that action was taken only after due verification to avoid harassment of innocent users.

Preventive Policing and Cyber-Conventional Integration

• Senior officers described Operation Shastra as part of a broader preventive policing strategy.
• The integration of cyber monitoring with conventional policing enables authorities to act before online threats translate into street crimes.
• This approach reflects a shift in law enforcement, where digital behaviour is treated as an early warning signal for potential criminal activity.
• Preventive operations like this aim to reduce crime and improve public safety proactively.

Question

Q1. Operation Shastra launched by Delhi Police is primarily aimed at,

A. Tackling financial fraud
B. Controlling drug trafficking
C. Curbing online intimidation and fear-mongering
D. Monitoring foreign cyber attacks