Drones Aid Crackdown on Illegal Liquor Dens in Nagpur Following the Pune hooch tragedy that claimed 15 lives, Maharashtra authorities have intensified efforts to combat illicit liquor production. Nagpur Rural and City Police have launched a coordinated operation using drone surveillance, raids, and legal action to dismantle illegal liquor networks. The crackdown, initiated after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis directed a CID probe into the Pune incident, has led to the seizure of significant quantities of illegal liquor and the arrest of multiple individuals involved in its production and distribution. On Saturday, Nagpur Rural Police, under Superintendent of Police Harssh A Poddar, raided a major illegal Mahua liquor unit in Ramti, Narkhed. The operation resulted in the registration of 10 cases under the Maharashtra Prohibition Act, with seven individuals arrested. Authorities confiscated 465 liters of crude liquor, 410 liters of raw materials, 25 bottles of foreign liquor brands, and 13 bottles of country liquor, totaling an estimated value of Rs81,000. Operational hand kilns were destroyed on-site, and four additional individuals were booked for consuming illicit liquor. The use of drones has been central to the operation, with rural police resuming surveillance to target hidden hooch dens in dense forests and tribal areas of Hingna and surrounding talukas. A major production unit was destroyed in Chandrapur Rithi village, Hingna taluka, by the crime branch under Crime Branch Chief Ravinder Singal, Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy, and Deputy Commissioner Rahul Maknikar. Searches were also conducted in Bhiwsenkhori and adjacent areas. Jt CP Reddy reported that 40 cases were registered against bootleggers and liquor-related offenses in the city on Friday.#devendra_fadnavis #navinchandra_reddy #harssh_a_poddar #ravinder_singal #rahul_maknikar
21 Slum Kids Excel in Exams, Spark Change in Nagpur's Crime-Plagued Slums In Nagpur’s Mahakali Nagar slums, a group of 21 students has become a symbol of resilience after excelling in state board Class 12 (HSC) and Class 10 (SSC) examinations, despite growing up in an area once notorious for crime. The students, who witnessed police raids and confrontations with local gangsters, were recently felicitated by law enforcement officials for their academic achievements. The recognition marks a significant turnaround for the neighborhood, which had long been plagued by violence, property crimes, and a culture of fear. The slums, located under the jurisdiction of Beltarodi police station, were historically a hub for criminal activity. Between 2020 and 2023, the area saw a surge in offenses, including violent crimes against women, property theft, and assaults on police personnel. Residents often faced daily threats, with reports of goons’ homes being set ablaze and frequent police raids. However, the community’s fortunes began to shift after sustained efforts by local authorities to engage with residents and address underlying issues. Senior Inspector Mukund Kawade of Beltarodi police station played a pivotal role in this transformation. He spearheaded initiatives that combined community policing with preventive measures, creating a safer environment for students to focus on education. Kawade’s efforts included distributing educational materials, organizing meetings with residents, and fostering trust between the police and the community. “We motivated students with books and other educational facilities,” Kawade explained. “It took sustained community policing and preventive actions to create a conducive environment for education.#nagpur #mukund_kawade #ravinder_singal #beltarodi_police_station #mahakali_nagar
84 Rescued from Hookah Parlours in Midnight Raids Nagpur police conducted three midnight raids in the Gokulpeth area, rescuing 84 individuals from illegal hookah parlors that operated as hazardous, confined spaces. The operation, led by Chief Police Officer Ravinder Singal, Deputy Commissioner of Police Rashmitha Rao, and Nityanand Jha, uncovered severe safety violations at three establishments disguised as hospitality venues. At one of the raided cafes, operated by Dnyaneshwar Paunikar, police discovered 29 people—including 17 men, 5 women, and staff—smoking hookah in densely packed, smoke-filled rooms. The premises were found to contain hookah pots, flavored tobacco products, gas cylinders, furniture, and other materials used for illicit operations. A second raid targeted a cafe run by Sheikh Sameer, where 41 individuals, including 23 men, 3 women, and 14 staff members, were allegedly trapped for several hours. Customers were reportedly prevented from exiting as hookah sessions continued, prompting police to call the fire brigade. Emergency responders forcibly opened exits, ensuring the safe evacuation of all trapped individuals. The third raid occurred at a cafe owned by Arslan Faim Mirza, where the premises were locked from the outside. Inside, 14 people—9 men and 4 women along with staff—were allegedly confined. Firefighters had to break open the entrance to rescue them. Following the raids, cases were registered under the Bombay Prevention of Wrongful Confinement Act (BNS) for wrongful restraint and confinement, as well as provisions of the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), 2003, and the Maharashtra Police Act.#nagpur #rashmitha_rao #ravinder_singal #gokulpeth #nityanand_jha
36 Peddlers Arrested in Yashodhara Nagar Anti-Drug Operation Nagpur: A high-intensity anti-drug operation in Yashodhara Nagar on Tuesday led to the arrest of 36 drug peddlers and the seizure of significant quantities of ganja from multiple locations within two hours. The raid, led by Chief Police Officer (CP) Ravinder Singal, marked a decisive effort by Nagpur police to combat the growing drug menace in the area. The operation involved simultaneous raids on over a dozen identified hotspots, including residential neighborhoods, suspected hideouts, and open areas frequently used for drug-related activities. Police teams conducted thorough checks of 36 individuals with prior records of narcotics offenses, many of whom were already serving sentences in other cases. House-to-house searches uncovered ganja from several offenders, with some facing fresh preventive action alongside existing charges. Senior officers, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Rahul Maknikar and Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Abhijit Patil, joined CP Singal on the ground to oversee the operation. Singal emphasized the strategic importance of such raids, stating, “Operation Thunder is delivering consistent results. These raids not only disrupt supply chains but also create strong deterrence. We are committed to making Nagpur completely drug-free through sustained pressure.” The operation gained added significance as Yashodhara Nagar has emerged as a critical zone for narcotics trafficking. By targeting repeat offenders, police aim to dismantle key links in the local drug ecosystem. During the raids, teams also flagged suspected illegal constructions, which are now under active verification for potential ties to drug-funded activities.#nagpur #ravinder_singal #yashodhara_nagar #rahul_maknikar #abhijit_patil
Heatwave: Police Launch Rescue and Rehabilitation Efforts for Homeless in Nagpur Nagpur authorities have intensified efforts to rescue and rehabilitate homeless individuals amid a severe heatwave that has pushed temperatures to 44 degrees Celsius. Over the past seven days, the city’s police department has activated its safety protocols to prevent deaths among vulnerable populations living on footpaths and streets. While official confirmation of fatalities remains pending, police sources estimate that at least 20 to 25 people may have succumbed to the extreme weather conditions, with unidentified bodies accumulating in government hospital mortuaries. The crisis has prompted the re-launch of the police’s flagship operation, Mission Mukti-3, aimed at rescuing and rehabilitating those at risk. The initiative, which follows a three-pronged strategy of rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration, involves collaboration between the police, government departments, and non-governmental organizations. Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal convened an inter-departmental meeting with key stakeholders, including the Govt Medical College and Hospital, Indira Gandhi Govt Medical College and Hospital, Regional Mental Hospital, Women and Child Development Department, and the Child Welfare Committee, to coordinate the program. The operation’s focus is on ensuring that no vulnerable citizen suffers on the streets during the ongoing heatwave. Earlier phases of the mission had already yielded results, with authorities successfully rescuing and relocating 482 at-risk individuals to shelter homes during Phases I and II. These efforts saved people from sunstroke and heat-related illnesses.#nagpur #police_department #ravinder_singal #govt_medical_college #mission_mukti_3
Fahim Khan Arrested for Murder Linked to Mahal Riots Fahim Khan, accused of orchestrating the violent Mahal riots in Central Nagpur on March 17, 2025, was arrested on Thursday after his name surfaced in a murder case tied to the unrest. The arrest followed a thorough review of the case file by Zonal DCP Rahul Madhni, under the guidance of Joint CP Navinchandra Reddy and CP Ravinder Singal. Khan, who had previously been granted bail in the riots case in July 2024, had gone underground after his involvement in the murder of Irafan Shafiq Ahmed Ansari, a 38-year-old welder, was uncovered. The murder occurred on March 17, 2025, when Ansari was attacked while traveling to Itwari railway station during the riots. He succumbed to his injuries at Mayo Hospital after six days in critical condition. The case was initially registered at the Tehsil police station and later transferred to the Crime Branch before being handed back to the Tehsil police station for further investigation. Eight individuals had already been arrested in connection with the murder, but Khan’s name emerged as a key suspect during the probe. Senior police officers launched search operations to locate Khan after his involvement was confirmed. On Thursday, he was summoned to the Tehsil police station, where he was informed of the grounds for his arrest and subsequently taken into custody. He is scheduled to appear before a court on Friday. Police officials described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the murder investigation, emphasizing that the probe is progressing on multiple fronts and that further arrests are possible. The Mahal riots in March 2025 had caused significant tension in Nagpur, with Khan’s name prominently featured in police investigations.#fahim_khan #navinchandra_reddy #ravinder_singal #rahul_madhni #itwari_railway_station
DGP Pushes Nagpur Model to Slash Road Deaths by 10% Nagpur: Director General of Police (DGP) Sadanand Date has endorsed the Nagpur model as a blueprint to reduce road fatalities by 10% across the state. During a review meeting with the Nagpur City Police Traffic Wing, Date analyzed the city’s strategy that led to a 25% decline in road accident deaths in 2025. The meeting, held during his visit to Nagpur for the 69th All India Police Duty Meet, included interactions with senior officers, traffic constables, and grassroots personnel. Officials highlighted that despite challenges such as nearly a thousand non-functional CCTV cameras and a lack of AI tools to detect red-light violations or number-plate breaches, Nagpur’s traffic team achieved significant results. Operation U-Turn, launched under the leadership of Chief Police Officer Ravinder Singal, played a pivotal role in the city’s success. The initiative focused on cracking down on drunk driving, violations by heavy vehicles, and other severe traffic offenses. As a result, road fatalities dropped from approximately 345 in 2024 to 259 in 2025. Early 2026 data indicates the fatality rate is continuing to decline, underscoring the sustainability of the strategy. Officials noted that the reduction in deaths is a direct outcome of the traffic police’s proactive measures, including frequent checkpoints, rapid response to accident hotspots, and improved staffing. Date emphasized the need for immediate action to address delays in post-accident improvements, such as road markings, street lighting, and traffic dividers, which often contribute to repeat crashes. He stressed that time is critical and urged authorities to prioritize these interventions.#all_india_police_duty_meet #dgp_sadanand_date #nagpur_city_police #ravinder_singal #dpdc
