In a decisive move against organized crime, authorities in Nagpur demolished thirty-three illegal structures, many of them luxurious air-conditioned extensions, from prime railway land in a swift six-hour operation on Saturday. The action targeted the heart of a notorious drug-and-crime den operated by city gangster Ippa Khan and his family at Dobi Nagar near Mominpura.
Massive Enforcement Operation Targets Gang's Heart
The dramatic enforcement show was launched by a force of 100 policemen, supported by riot control platoons, six police inspectors, and officials from the South-East Central Railways. The operation also utilized the railway protection force, drones, and dog squads for a comprehensive crackdown. Police sources confirmed that nine of the razed structures were directly owned by gangster Mohammed Irfan Khan, alias Ippa, and his brothers Irshad Khan (Acchu) and Naushad Pir Khan Ippa.
These were not ordinary encroachments. The lavish constructions included ritzy rooms, gymnasiums, offices, and concealed hideouts where luxury items were stashed. The demolitions focused on illegal buildings along the arterial Kolkata-Mumbai railway track, where the gang had established its bases and operated with impunity for nearly two decades.
Hubs of Crime and Narcotics Levelled
Senior Inspector Baburao Raut of Pachpaoli police station led the ground operation alongside ACP Shivprasad Parwe. A police source revealed the true nature of these buildings: "These were not just homes, but operational hubs for drug peddling, arms trafficking, and extortion." As second-generation criminals, the Ippa brothers had long dominated the Mominpura, Dobi Nagar, and Pachpaoli areas, creating an atmosphere of fear among residents.
The action is part of an escalating anti-narcotics and organized crime crackdown in the run-up to civic elections. It delivered a critical blow to the gang's logistics, days after significant drug and arms seizures in the same locality. Apart from narcotics and firearms, the gang was known to operate gambling and bootlegging dens in the area, all of which were targeted.
Chain of Events Leading to the Demolition
The operation stemmed from recent raids that exposed the gang's deep narcotics network. In one raid, three firearms, 22 cartridges, sharp weapons, and over 10kg of ganja were seized from the home of aide Rahul Masurkar, who is linked to gangster Acchu. Masurkar's house was also razed during Saturday's operation. Following Masurkar's interrogation, another raid this week uncovered more weapons at a woman's house in Lashkarbagh.
After the initial raid on Masurkar, Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal and Zonal DCP Rahul Madane, along with 200 officers, stormed the locality. This subsequent action led to the seizure of an additional 1,200 grams of drugs from local peddlers, effectively busting a drug cartel chain that extended to Odisha and beyond.
The demolitions not only disrupted the gang's operations but also revealed hidden escape routes and fortified garages they used. For residents long silenced by terror, the move was a welcome relief. One local shared, "Extortion and open drug deals were routine; now there's hope for normalcy." The action signifies a strong stance by authorities against the encroachment of public land and the criminal empires built upon it.
