Nagpur: In a major crackdown on illegal hookah parlours across the city, the city police raided three locations, arrested 36 individuals and seized material worth Rs1.50 lakh under ‘Operation Thunder' which continued on Saturday past midnight.

CP Ravinder Singal has also issued a 24-hour ultimatum to all illegal hookah parlours, e-cigarette shops and other illicit operations to cease activities immediately or face severe consequences, including long-term closure, sealing of premises, and seizures.The raids, spearheaded by the anti-narcotics cell under senior inspector Gajanan Gulhane, were executed in collaboration with Sitabuldi and Ambazari police stations.The first raid targeted a café and lounge in Gokulpeth, under Sitabuldi police station jurisdiction, where 28 individuals were caught using hookah. The police seized 14 hookah pots, hookah flavours, cylinders, pipes and other material valued at Rs30,000. The second raid was conducted at a café near Laxmi Bhuvan Chowk, under Ambazari police limits, where six individuals were apprehended. The cops confiscated 15 hookah pots, 13 chillums, 22 pipes, hookah flavours, a laptop and other items, in all worth Rs72,370.

In the raid at another café near Laxmi Bhuvan Chowk, one of its owners and one worker were detained. Items seized included 17 hookah pots, 33 pipes, hookah flavours, a laptop and other material valued at Rs47,060.CP Singal told The Times of India, "All illegal hookah parlours, shady joints or establishments offering prohibited services or selling banned items like e-cigarettes and flavoured tobacco must shut down within the next 24 hours.

If our teams raid these premises after this deadline, they will face severe actions, including long-term closures and sealing of properties. Last week, crime branch teams raided 17 locations across Nagpur in a crackdown on illegal storage, supply and sale of imported e-cigarettes, prohibited flavoured tobacco and other banned substances. The operation, conducted under the guidance of CP and DCP (crime) Rahul Maknikar, led to the seizure of material worth over Rs43 lakh.

Offences were registered against 26 individuals across 13 police stations.The Nagpur police have urged citizens to report any illegal hookah parlours, drug sales or consumption, assuring that identity of the informant will be kept confidential. "We are committed to making Nagpur a safer city. Public cooperation is vital in this fight against illegal activities," said a police spokesperson.