TIRUCHI: A special drive has been launched by the law enforcers across the central zone to apprehend anti-social elements and those who could cause disturbance to public order.
The sudden operation has been carried out as a preventive measure in view of the current situation in the State to ensure that there was no disturbance to law and order.
Being executed on the direction of the police top brass, the drive has led to the arrest of over 140 anti-social elements till now across the zone encompassing eight districts.
Police sources said the drive was launched on Saturday with police personnel split into teams carrying out checks in lodges and possible hideouts of suspects and criminals at various places across the zone.
The number of anti-social elements arrested in the zone was 104 on Sunday alone. The arrests were made in Tiruchi, Pudukottai, Karur, Perambalur, Ariyalur, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts.
Teams had been formed by the Superintendent of Police of the respective districts to apprehend the anti-socials, police sources said.
In Tiruchi city alone, 22 anti-social elements with criminal background were arrested and sent for judicial remand as a precautionary measure.
Special teams headed by the station house officers of the respective police stations in the city limits have been carrying out checks in choultries, lodges and marriage halls.
In addition to this, vehicle checks were being conducted at important junctions and other vantage spots. The sources said the anti-socials were arrested to ensure that there was no disturbance to law and order.
Law enforcers also held ex-convicts and suspects against whom cases had been registered. Surveillance was being maintained on those with criminal background, a press release from the city police said. The sources said the drive would continue.