The "dragon knife," a seemingly innocuous designer blade, is rapidly becoming a weapon of choice, especially among teenagers, contributing to a surge in violent crime in Delhi. These knives, with their curved blades and etched designs, are easily accessible and difficult to regulate, making them a growing concern for law enforcement.

In recent months, several incidents have highlighted the deadly potential of these knives. In early May 2025, minors fatally stabbed a man with a dragon knife during a robbery attempt. Prior to that, juveniles used similar knives to attack and injure two young men in a street altercation. Last October, three teenagers killed an 18-year-old with one of these blades.

What makes the "dragon knife" so popular among budding criminals? For starters, they are not classified as illegal weapons under the Arms Act. A police officer explained that simply carrying a dragon knife is not grounds for arrest unless it is used unlawfully. Even then, legal loopholes related to the knife's dimensions and operating mechanism make prosecution difficult.

Data from the first quarter of 2025 reveals a worrying trend: cases under the Arms Act have increased by 9.6% compared to the same period last year. However, this figure doesn't fully capture the problem, as designer knives that are not mechanically operated often go unrecorded in Arms Act statistics.

Beyond their utility as weapons, dragon knives have also become status symbols for teenagers. Police officers note that these knives are used to intimidate, rob, and even kill, and they serve as tools for teenagers to assert dominance both on the streets and online.

The accessibility of these knives is a major contributing factor to their proliferation. They are readily available in local markets like Sarojini Nagar, Karol Bagh, Sadar Bazar, and Seelampur. Smaller hardware shops and even blacksmiths in slum areas often sell them under the counter. Online retailers also contribute to the problem by disguising the knives as "kitchen knives" or "utility knives" to avoid scrutiny.

Law enforcement faces a significant challenge in curbing the spread of dragon knives. Because the knives are designed to fall just outside the legal definition of prohibited weapons, they are difficult to confiscate or regulate. While authorities are working on plans to crack down on the sale and procurement of these knives, they are also using other legal provisions, such as Section 170 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, to arrest individuals who may be planning to commit cognizable offenses.

In 2022, police arrested three people involved in importing and selling dragon knives online, after discovering over 14,000 of the weapons. The knives were being imported from China, with the importers misleading customs officials by claiming they were kitchen knives. These knives were then sold online to shops and criminals in Delhi.

As of today, June 6, 2025, Delhi police are actively working to address the issue, but the combination of legal loopholes, easy availability, and the knives' appeal as status symbols makes the "dragon knife" a persistent and evolving threat to public safety in the city.