Patna, Dec. 19: Patna police arrested 34 criminals in 24 hours with the launch of Operation Vishwas, senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaaj's war on crime.

"I am calling it Operation Vishwas. The aim is to make residents feel safe and let them know the police is at their service," the SSP said.

Among those held was Mohammed Mustakim, who led a gang of SUV thieves. "They would stop an SUV with just driver, make him drive to a secluded spot, dump him and flee with the SUV, to be sold later. Mustakim has lived in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia and took to crime after watching some movies," Maharaaj said.

Many others were involved in petty crimes for easy money. "This operation aims at rehabilitating them once they are out of prison. All efforts are being made to make Patna a crime-free state capital," Maharaaj said.