A police raid in Kantabanji region of Bolangir district over gambling suspicion unearthed a whopping Rs 80 lakh stashed in a container at Shree Annapurna lodge at Parshuram Chowk of the town.
As per reports, police have detained seven persons belonging to other states for further questioning.
SDPO of Kantabanji told OTV that the suspects were held for gambling. But, sources said, illegal procurement of bonded labour is a regular affair in Kantabanji area and previously also many such insistences had been recorded.
It is suspected, the individuals were owners of brick kiln yards who were procuring bonded labour through the help of their local conduits. Police are trying to play it down as it would reveal the failure in implementation of government schemes.