Andhra Pradesh

Police crack whip on bars

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 19. In a midnight swoop, the city police cracked the whip on bars and restaurants in the twin cities organising obscene dances and flouting amusement licence and other norms last night raiding 23 of them and arresting some 140 persons, including singers and dancers.

This was the first time that raids on this scale were conducted. The raids covered several parts of the city, which indicated the rampant prevalence of obscene dancing. The police also raided three clubs and four wine shops found violating norms.

In the Secunderabad area alone, police teams raided 14 places, including seven bars and restaurants, leading to the arrest of 32 persons, who included owners, staff and customers.

"The raids were well planned and the teams briefed in the last minute to maintain confidentiality," a press release issued by the North Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police said.

At Paradise circle, the teams raided Maharaja, Mount Paradise and Silver Plate bars and restaurants and arrested 18 persons for violating conditions of the amusement licence.

Elsewhere in the city, the Narayanguda police raided all the six bars and restaurants in their jurisdiction and arrested 40 persons, including singers and dancers. The places that were raided were Violin bar and restaurant, Taj Indus, Night King, Mayura, Lagoon and Forest bar and restaurant.

The Abids Road police raided three premises and arrested 20 persons. However, owners of these premises managed to abscond while the staff present there were arrested.

Similarly, the Nampally and Chikkadpally police raided one premises each and arrested 12 persons while the Saifabad police raided two bars and restaurants and arrested 13 persons.

In all cases, the singers/dancers were released on bail while owners and staff were being produced before the Magistrate. Most of the singers and dancers hailed from West Bengal, Maharashtra and Rajasthan.

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