Over 300 Arrested After Crackdown On Gambling Dens In Odisha

Berhampur: Continuing its crackdown on gambling activities in Ganjam district, police on Sunday arrested as many as 270 gamblers and seized cash worth around Rs 9 lakh from their possession. Similarly, police arrested 39 persons red-handed during raid on gambling dens in Mohana area of Gajapati district besides seizing Rs 2.57 lakh cash and 29 mobiles seized from the spot.

The crackdown comes in the wake of reports of a surge in gambling activities in the district in view of the Kumara Purnima festival. Multiple raids were conducted at as many as 46 locations.

OTV had telecast a report regarding a spike in cases of illegal betting and gambling during festive season in Ganjam district.

The police had earlier seized over Rs 4.25 lakh cash and 25 mobile phones during the raids which were conducted at several places under eight police limits in Berhampur on Saturday night.

At least 12 gamblers were arrested during a raid at Shastri Nagar by Goshani Nuagaon police while Rs 70,000 and six mobile phones were recovered from their possession. In another raid at Shanti Nagar under Bada Bazar Police limits, 11 gamblers were arrested and Rs 11,000 was seized.

Though playing of cards is part of local tradition during the festive season from Dussehra to Laxmi puja, some people were operating gambling units to make money. Earlier, it was alleged that a lot of people including businessmen, contractors and educated youths were losing their hard earned money to such illegal gambling units in the district.