New Delhi 

Delhi Police have initiated Operation Shastra, a city-wide crackdown aimed at curbing the misuse of social media by individuals posting images with weapons and using threatening or abusive language to spread fear among the public.

As part of the operation, more than 500 police teams comprising over 2,000 personnel were deployed to scrutinise online activity. Authorities examined over 6,000 social media accounts, resulting in the arrest of 83 individuals, including 67 adults and 16 juveniles. A total of 61 FIRs were registered during the drive, and police recovered 82 weapons along with 93 live cartridges.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Southern Range) SK Jain said the initiative was launched to counter online intimidation and prevent potential law-and-order threats.

“Delhi Police launched Operation Shastra against individuals who were posting pictures with weapons on social media platforms and using abusive language. Their intention was to create fear through online means. This operation was specifically conducted to act against such elements,” Jain told ANI.

He added that the large-scale operation involved coordinated efforts across multiple units, leading to significant seizures and arrests.

Meanwhile, Delhi Police on Friday also dismissed circulating claims regarding a sharp rise in cases of missing girls in the national capital, stating that such narratives were being amplified through paid social media promotions.

The police warned that strict legal action would be taken against those spreading misinformation for financial gain, asserting that attempts to generate panic would not be tolerated.

“After following several leads, we found that the so-called surge in missing girls in Delhi was being promoted through paid campaigns. Creating panic for monetary benefit will invite strict action,” Delhi Police said in a post on X.

Earlier, the police had reassured residents that there was no cause for alarm, particularly concerning children, despite online claims suggesting an increase in missing-person cases.

On Thursday, Delhi Police released official data showing that the number of missing-person reports in January 2026 had actually declined compared to the same period last year. According to the data, 1,777 cases were recorded in January 2026, lower than the city’s monthly average of around 2,000 cases.

The figures further indicate that missing-person reports in Delhi have remained broadly consistent over the past decade, ranging between 23,000 and 24,000 cases annually since 2016, even as the population has grown.

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Police records also show that since 2016, 1,80,805 missing persons have been traced and reunited with their families, reflecting a recovery rate of approximately 77 per cent, Delhi Police said.