Ahmedabad Crime Branch raids electronics hub on Relief Road ahead of rathyatra

The Ahmedabad City Crime Branch on Wednesday launched extensive raids across the electronics market on Relief Road, an area widely known for the sale of mobile phones, second-hand electronics, and other gadgets, often without proper documentation or legal invoices.

The ongoing operation, which is still underway, is focused not only on unauthorised sales of electronic goods but also on the illegal distribution of SIM cards without mandatory identity verification. Officials have confirmed that this intensified action comes in the wake of heightened security concerns ahead of the annual Rathyatra, scheduled on June 27.

"This operation is aimed at dismantling the informal networks involved in the undocumented sale of electronic items and SIM cards," said a senior Crime Branch official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the active nature of the investigation. "Such untraceable goods could potentially be misused by anti-social elements to disrupt public order or facilitate illegal activities during large-scale religious processions like the rathyatra."

Crime Branch teams are systematically inspecting shops along the stretch, seizing electronic equipment and SIM cards found without valid purchase records or legal paperwork. The area, a bustling hub for bargain electronic goods, has long drawn scrutiny from law enforcement for its alleged role in facilitating black-market trade.

According to police sources, one of the key objectives of the operation is to trace the individuals behind these illegal activities and prevent the possible misuse of unregulated devices or communication channels in the lead-up to major public gatherings.

The Ahmedabad Police have reiterated that public safety remains a top priority in the run-up to the rathyatra, which draws massive crowds each year. By acting pre-emptively, authorities hope to neutralise potential threats and ensure the event proceeds peacefully.

Further details regarding seizures and arrests, if any, are expected to be released upon the conclusion of the operation.