A police raid targeting an illegal horse cart race and associated gambling activity near Babu Sabu escalated into violence when local residents attacked the raiding team with sticks.
According to officials, the Shahdara police had received a tip-off regarding large-scale betting during the horse cart race, prompting an operation to apprehend those involved.
However, the raid met with fierce resistance from locals who attempted to obstruct the police action.
During the chaos, the crowd assaulted officers, resulting in injuries and tearing of police uniform.
Despite the resistance, the police managed to arrest a key suspect identified as Bala Aslam who is believed to be the organiser of the betting ring.
The police also seized thousands of rupees in stake money along with several horses and carts from the spot.
A case has been registered against the attackers, including one identified as Tauqeer Bhatti, along with several unidentified persons who had fled from the scene. Eyewitnesses reported that hundreds of spectators had gathered to watch the race when the raid occurred.
Police officials say investigations into the incident are under way.
Meanwhile, Lahore police claimed to have arrested 1,619 suspects during a crackdown on gambling dens and the online illegal activity so far this year and registered 413 cases against them.
According to a spokesperson, more than Rs8.41 million in stake money was seized from the arrested suspects.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Bilal Siddique Kamyana said police operations were ongoing to dismantle both traditional and online gambling networks. He directed the police to intensify the crackdown and conduct intelligence-based raids on gambling dens.
"The noose is tightening around those involved in online gambling," he said, urging the use of modern information technology to effectively counter the activities.
He also ordered legal action against social media accounts and mobile applications promoting online gambling, emphasising the need for collaboration with the public prosecution department to ensure that the cases are pursued to their logical conclusion. With additional input from APP
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