More than 20 cases were registered and 13 persons arrested in a surprise day-long check held by the police in the rural district. The check, code-named ‘Operation Shylock’, was against illegal moneylenders.
The police have been tracking the operations of the moneylenders and collecting information before launching the drive.
“Fifteen different teams were formed for the drive that started at 8 a.m. Most of the arrests were done during the initial hours when the teams went for big players,” said Satish Binoo, Superintendent of Police, Ernakulam Rural.
The biggest catch made during the drive was that of Rs. 9 lakh from a moneylender at Aluva and Rs. 5 lakh from another at Muvattupuzha. Documents like stamp papers and blank cheques were seized during the raid.
Mr. Binoo said that the drive against illegal money lending would continue and asked the public to come forward with complaints if they had any.
