Belagavi: Belagavi recorded a sharp rise in illegal activities in 2025, with registered cases nearly doubling compared to the previous year, posing growing challenges for law enforcement agencies. Data released by the city police commissioner’s office shows that 461 cases were registered in 2025, a sharp rise from 237 cases recorded in 2024.The most pronounced increase was observed in cases booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. NDPS-related cases jumped dramatically from 55 in 2024 to 210 in 2025, pointing to both the widening drug problem and intensified policing efforts. Senior police officers attributed this spike largely to the aggressive enforcement drive launched after city police commissioner Bhushan Borase took charge in May 2025.Cases linked to matka gambling also increased, rising from 99 in 2024 to 131 in 2025. Gambling-related offences showed a slight uptick, moving from 25 to 27 cases during the same period.A particularly worrying trend was the surge in illegal arms cases, which rose steeply from just three cases in 2024 to 30 in 2025. This sharp increase has raised serious concerns about public safety and the circulation of illicit weapons in the city. Additionally, complaints of microfinance harassment grew from one case in 2024 to four cases in 2025, indicating rising allegations of coercive recovery practices.No cases were reported under illegal mining, illegal clubs, real estate mafia activities, the BUDS Act, cricket betting, or other betting-related offences in either year. While officials said this may reflect effective deterrence in these areas, they cautioned that the possibility of under-reporting or under-detection cannot be ruled out.The data underscores the urgent need for sustained and targeted strategies, especially to curb narcotics trafficking and organised crime, which continue to pose serious threats to law and order in Belagavi and across the state.
