LAHORE, Feb 28: Police have been able to arrest only two of the alleged patronisers or managers of gambling and prostitution dens in the city, pointed out in a letter sent from the president’s secretariat to the Punjab government.

The crackdown had been launched against the owners of 53 high-profile dens in the city following the issuance of the letter.

So far 20 cases have been registered in different police stations against the gamblers present in some of the dens at the time of raids, but a majority of the `real’ culprits was still at large, sources privy to development told Dawn.

The sources said the police continued raiding the dens identified in the letter on Wednesday but most of these were found locked.

However, during the raids on some other dens many gamblers were held along with stake money and other valuables.

According to the sources, the owners and their abettors running 51 dens have gone underground after the news being flashed in a section of the press in the last three days.

The officials concerned so far claim arrest of a den owner, Shahid Khan, from Garden Town, and Ahmed Gujjar from Iqbal Town during the raids launched on Feb 21.

On Wednesday, the police arrested a gambler Ahmed from Gulshan Ravi, Rafeeq from Shafeeqabad, Mazhar Hussain from Green Town and Hyder Ali and Muhammad Sher from Kot Lakpat areas.

On Feb 21, the city police had arrested 106 alleged gamblers from eight dens and recovered Rs900,000 in cash, 65 cell phones, 25 wrist watches and illegal weapons from their possession.

“The teams have been raiding the dens for the last six days and arrested few gamblers and registered up to 20 cases so far,” a senior police officer informed on condition of anonymity.

The sources said a majority of the identified dens were operating in rented places.

When contacted, SSP (operations) Aftaab Ahmed Cheema said the raids against the den owners were in progress and no one would be spared.