Zone III DCP Lohit Matani (center) along with his team in Mominpura

Zone III police team led by DCP Lohit Matani, during a special drive, raided multiple places under the zone and nabbed gambling den operators, bootleggers, and other anti-social elements. The drive, which happened under the guidance of Nagpur Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, Additional Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, took place from 7 pm on March 5 till 2 am on March 6.

As part of the drive, the team first raided a place near MLC canteen in Mominpura and nabbed four men with contraband. The men were booked under sections 27 of the NDPS Act. The team then nabbed two men ? Mohammad Shahbaz Mohammad Israel Ansari (28) and Mohammad Jaaved Mohammad Hafiz Ansari, both residents of Mominpura ? for roaming around with swords. Both the men were booked under sections 4 and 25 of the Arms Act.

In Jagnath Budhwari, the team nabbed two gamblers Shubham Vivek Maske (25) and Vijay Yograj Maske (27), both residents of Nikalas Mandir, for their taking money from people and engaging in gambling in the illegal game Kalyan Prabhat. The police team seized items worth Rs 94,630 and booked the two men under section 12(a) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887.

Similarly, near TB ward in Maskasath, the team nabbed one more gambler ? Subhash Marotrao Katwe (32), a resident of Maskasath, for taking money from people and engaging in gambling in the illegal game. Katwe, too, was booked under 12 (a) of the Maharashtra Prevention of Gambling Act, 1887.

Coming down heavily on bootleggers, the police team, while conducting the drive at Bharat Mata Square, nabbed Harshal Umashankar Gokhale (35), a resident of Itwari, and seized liquor worth Rs 2,600. Gokhale was booked under section 65(e) of Maharashtra Prohibition Act, 1949.

The team then conducted a raid on a shop named Smokies and nabbed two men Adil Shaikh Mushtaq Shaikh (28) and Atibauddin Mohammad Aminudduin (24), both residents of Hansapuri, for selling material used for smoking hookah. The police also seized material worth Rs 37,380. Both the men have been booked under sections 4 and 21 of the COTPA Act, 2003, and sections 273 and 34 of the IPC.