Three cafes — Soro Cafe, Nimbus Lounge and Hash Cafe — were sealed for 30 days after Nagpur City Police carried out a major midnight crackdown under “Operation Thunder” in the Gokulpeth area falling under Ambazari Police Station limits.
The operation, launched against alleged illegal hookah activities, later turned into an emergency rescue mission after police and Fire Brigade teams reportedly discovered several people trapped inside smoke-filled locked rooms within the cafes. Thick smoke had allegedly spread across parts of the premises, causing panic among customers and staff members attempting to escape from enclosed sections.
Police and Fire Brigade personnel were forced to break open entrances at two establishments to evacuate those trapped inside. The coordinated raids were conducted in the early hours of Monday under the supervision of Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal and DCP Zone II Nityanand Jha as part of the city police’s intensified anti-hookah and anti-drug enforcement campaign.
Police sources said the three establishments had previously been served notices asking managements to explain why the premises should not be sealed for allegedly running illegal hookah services. However, despite the notices, the cafes were allegedly found operating again during the latest raid. Following the repeated violations, police sealed all three establishments for 30 days without issuing any fresh notice.
During the operation, officials reportedly found 84 persons — including customers, staff members and cafe operators — inside the smoke-filled premises. At Soro Cafe alone, 29 persons were allegedly found consuming hookah inside closed rooms filled with smoke. Police also seized hookah pots, tobacco products and other related materials during the raid.
Officials stated that action was initiated against the cafes for allegedly violating safety norms and operating illegal hookah services. The establishments will remain sealed for 30 days pending further investigation and legal proceedings. According to police, the action is part of Nagpur City Police’s ongoing drive against illegal hookah parlours and activities linked to narcotics and tobacco consumption in the city.
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