The city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar has reported a notable decrease in murders during 2025, a positive development set against an overall rise in serious crime. Police authorities have directly linked this decline to a rigorous and sustained offensive against narcotics networks and substance abuse within the city.
Sharp Decline in Homicides Linked to Anti-Narcotics Drive
Presenting the official crime data, Police Commissioner Pravin Pawar stated that a total of 28 murders were registered within the city police commissionerate limits so far this year, with all cases being successfully detected. This figure represents a significant reduction of 15 murder cases compared to the tally for 2024.
Commissioner Pawar emphasized that relentless action under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was instrumental in achieving this drop. "Over the years, our investigations clearly established a direct link between substance abuse and serious offences, including murder. Once that became evident, we decided to break the backbone of the drug supply network operating in and around the city," Pawar explained.
Unprecedented Surge in NDPS Cases and Arrests
The statistics from the anti-narcotics campaign are staggering. Until the end of November 2025, the city police registered 289 NDPS cases, marking a steep 209% increase from the 142 cases recorded in the previous year. This aggressive drive led to the arrest of 312 accused and the seizure of narcotics and related materials valued at approximately Rs 3.3 crore.
The police targeted supply chains operating at local, inter-district, and inter-state levels. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ratnakar Navale noted that the impact of this crackdown resonated beyond the district's borders. "Suppliers from other states now think twice before sending ganja, MD drugs, tablets, and cough syrups to peddlers in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. A strong deterrent message went across Maharashtra and neighbouring states," Navale said.
Mixed Trends in Other Serious Crimes and Conviction Challenges
While murders declined, other categories of serious offences showed an upward trend, presenting a complex law-and-order picture for the city.
- Attempted Murder: 134 cases registered (132 detected), an increase of 25 cases.
- Robbery: 192 cases registered (147 solved), an increase of 17 cases.
- Rape: 155 cases registered (all detected), an increase of 6 cases.
- Molestation: 399 cases registered and detected, an increase of 10 cases.
- Dacoity: 12 cases (all detected), a reduction of 4 cases.
Police also invoked stringent laws like MCOCA in seven preventive actions against 48 accused and successfully applied MPDA against seven hardened criminals this year.
However, a persistent challenge remains in securing convictions. As highlighted by Crime Branch inspector Gajanan Kalyankar, conviction rates remain low, with district courts at around 10% and first-class magistrate courts at a mere 5%. "Crime detection improved, but convictions are still a matter of concern," an officer admitted.
Controversial Measures and a Focus on Deterrence
The police also defended their use of the controversial 'dhind' practice, which involves publicly parading habitual offenders and drug racketeers to dismantle their aura of fear. Commissioner Pawar stated that the force is focusing equally on prevention and detection, employing stringent legal sections as a deterrent.
"In chain-snatching cases, we are now invoking attempt-to-murder charges, while manja sellers are being booked under culpable homicide sections," he said, illustrating the proactive and severe approach being adopted.
In conclusion, the police maintain that the 15-case reduction in murders stands as clear evidence of the impact of their sustained war on drugs, even as they continue to grapple with rising numbers in other crime categories within Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
