Imagine chasing a criminal who’s been missing for 40 years. Sounds like a film script, right? But this happened for real in Valsad. Under the leadership of IPS Dr. Karanraj Vaghela, the district police launched Operation Hunt, a daring three-month campaign that tracked down and arrested 130 absconding criminals in just three months, many hiding for decades under false identities!
“Some of these accused thought the law had forgotten them,” recalls Dr. Vaghela. “But we wanted to send a message: justice may be delayed, but it will never be denied.”
Watch his exclusive video interview below to know how he carried on this difficult operation successfully:
PLANNING THE UNTHINKABLE
A 2012-batch Gujarat cadre officer, Dr. Vaghela was then Superintendent of Police, Valsad, and is now serving as DCP, Economic Wing, Surat City. Known for his sharp strategies, he designed Operation Hunt as a district-wide crackdown. Multiple teams were formed such as Local Crime Branch (LCB), Special Operations Group (SOG), Parole-Furlough Squad, and police stations across Valsad.
Relying on a mix of technical surveillance and human intelligence, these teams dug up leads, followed trails, and prepared for coordinated raids. Many criminals had fled Gujarat, forcing the police to conduct operations across different states. Some lived under assumed names, some in complete disguise.
“We had to think like the criminals,” says Dr. Vaghela. “Every raid was a puzzle, and cracking it gave us the edge.”
THE ARRESTS THAT SHOOK VALSAD
The results were staggering:
- 36 criminals nabbed by the LCB
- 16 by SOG
- 12 by Valsad Rural
- 10 by Vapi Town
- 8 by Parole-Furlough Squad
- 6 each by Valsad City and Dungri
- Others by Bhilad, Pardi, Dharampur, Vapi GIDC, Dungra, and Umargam
In all, 130 absconders, wanted for murder, robbery, rape, kidnapping, and assault, were back in custody.
MORE THAN NUMBERS
For Valsad, Operation Hunt wasn’t just a campaign; it was reassurance. Families who had waited decades for justice could finally hope again. Law and order in the district stood stronger.
“This wasn’t only about statistics,” Dr. Vaghela emphasizes. “It was about closure for victims and making people feel safe.”
FROM VALSAD TO SURAT
Now in Surat, Dr. Vaghela leads the Economic Wing, focusing on frauds and financial crimes in one of India’s fastest-growing cities. Yet, the lessons of Operation Hunt remain close.
“The crimes may change, but the principle is the same: strategy, teamwork, and persistence win the battle,” he says.
Operation Hunt may sound like a thriller. But for Valsad, it was justice, finally delivered.
