Over 1,000 Gamblers Arrested, Rs 40 Lakh Seized In 10 Days In Odisha’s Ganjam

Berhampur: In their bid to check the social menace of gambling, police have arrested more than 1,000 gamblers and seized around Rs 40 lakh during 10 days in Odisha’s Ganjam district.

According to Berhampur SP Sarvana Vivek M, the police conducted raids on 27 gambling dens and other places in the city during 10 days from October 1 to 9. As many as 197 persons were arrested and Rs 12.36 lakh used in gambling was seized from their possession.

Similarly, Ganjam SP Brijesh Ray said the police carried out raids on 162 places across the district during the period. The raids led to arrest of 882 persons and seizure of Rs 27,29,000, he added.

As per the provisions of Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act, 1956, a convicted gambler can be sentenced to one-month jail and imposed a penalty of Rs 100.

The gambling, particularly cards, has been a traditional practice in the district from Dussehra to Kumar Purnima. But the people could not indulge in it due to COVID restrictions for two years. However, the illegal game again cropped up this year after relaxation of the curbs.