Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana January 22 Illegal lottery operators in Janakpuri here yesterday cornered the anti-smuggling cell chief of the Ludhiana Commissionerate Yashpal Sharma along with his team when he had gone to conduct a raid at an illegal lottery shop in the area. Cops had nabbed the lottery operator but aides of the latter forcibly freed him from the cops. Deploy IPS officer to probe illegal trade Congress leader-cum-member District Grievance Redressal Committee Parminder Mehta said an IPS officer should be deployed to find out the politicians whose had patronised this illegal trade again in the city. Despite the top cop banning the trade it was flourishing again in the city. He said the role of the policemen sheltering these operators should be probed. He had also written a letter to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on the issue. He alleged that a senior Congress MLA was also supporting the lottery operators. He had also gone to the spot on Thursday to save the skin of a lottery operator. Later senior police officials reached the spot and handled the situation. Surprisingly the police registered an FIR against unknown persons despite such a huge drama that brought embarrassment to the police. An FIR was registered against unknown persons under the Gambling Act 379-B (snatching) 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging his duty) 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public function) 224 (resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) 120-B (criminal conspiracy). As per the complainant SI Yashpal he along with ASI Harjap senior constable Manvir constables Ranjit Harjinder had gone to catch the illegal lottery operator. First he sent cop Manvir to buy an illegal lottery ticket and the moment it was bought he along with other cops raided the provisional store situated close to Panna Jewellers in Janakpuri. Darra Satta (lottery) slips calculator currency notes and a copy were seized from the lottery operator. Later aides of the suspect gathered there and cornered the police. They forcibly freed the nabbed person from police custody and also snatched the seized things from a cop and helped the lottery operator to flee from the place. Meanwhile sources said aides of lottery operators had levelled allegations against cops for demanding bribe to run the illegal trade but they had not submitted any complaint. Jeweller on police radar Sources said a jeweller in Janakpuri is said to be the key illegal lottery operator and the police has also been keeping a tab on him but due to the lack of evidence the police failed to catch him.

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