India, Oct. 4 -- Amid drought-like conditions, the department of cooperation and police have stepped up action against alleged illegal moneylending, conducting simultaneous searches at 13 locations in Latur district on Saturday.

According to officials, searches were conducted in Latur, Udgir and Devani in Latur district.

Acting on a complaint received by the Department of Cooperation, a joint team searched the residences of Pandurang Ramchandra Panchal at Valandi and Kavthala, besides his Shri Ram Mobile Shop at Valandi, Sadhu Ramchandra Kamble, Pappu alias Satish Pandhare and Rajiv Biradar, Firozkhan Pathan, Amol Ashok Kothalwar and Vikram Mane, all from Udgir in Latur district.

Latur district collector Bharat Bastewad said, "During p...