The City Police have detained 188 habitual offenders as part of a special crackdown aimed at strengthening law and order in the State capital ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.

The preventive detentions were carried out under a special drive titled ‘Operation Dark Hunt’ that targeted people listed in the rowdy history sheets.

Acting on intelligence and station-level records, police teams across the city rounded up the suspects and placed them under preventive custody to avert potential disturbances.

According to the police, the move was part of heightened security measures being implemented in the run-up to the Assembly elections scheduled for next month. The district authorities aim to prevent criminal activities, ensure public safety and maintain order in the city during the election period.

The police indicated that similar enforcement measures would continue in the coming days as part of the broader strategy to tighten surveillance over known offenders.