Berhampur: A total of 171 people have been arrested for allegedly gambling and Rs 4.83 lakh in cash was seized ahead of the Kumar Purnima festival in Odisha’s Ganjam district, reports said.
People of Ganjam district indulge in illegal gambling as a customary practice after Dussehra till Kumar Purnami. Therefore, the police have launched an operation to conduct raids on various places across the district to stop the social menace.
During the special drive, altogether 112 gamblers were arrested and Rs 2.92 lakh in cash was seized in massive raids at numerous gambling dens across the Ganjam police district since Thursday, sources said.
Similarly, as many as 59 people, including four women, were arrested in the Berhampur police district and Rs 1.91 lakh in cash was seized from them on Friday.
Ganjam consists of two police districts — Berhampur and Ganjam. Apart from cash, police have also seized a large number of mobile phones, motorcycles and other materials from the accused persons.
As there were no COVID-related restrictions, people indulged in gambling across the district with much enthusiasm. Police have warned that their drive to crack down on gambling would be intensified in the days to come.
“We will not allow the people to indulge in unlawful activities in the name of the age-old tradition,” Ganjam Superintendent of Police Brijesh Rai has reportedly said.
