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19 arrested in a raid on gambling den

BERHAMPUR: Nineteen persons were arrested with seizure of more than Rs. 1.16 lakhs from a gambling den operating in the city at Rautapeta Street during raids by city police in the wee hours of Tuesday.

City police are continuing to crack the whip on organised gambling dens that sprout in the city during Durga Puja and Kumar Purnima season. In the past two weeks more than 100 persons have been arrested on charge of gambling from clandestine gambling dens in the city. On Tuesday night another raid at a gambling den at Haridakhandi area had led to arrest of seven persons.

This major trading centre of south Orissa enters into gambling spree during Durga Puja season and it continues till Kumar Purnima, the day when Goddess Laxmi is worshipped in this region.

Berhampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Nitinjeet Singh said their only targets are the professional gamblers and organised gambling dens. "Gambling for frolic among family members and friends is never a law and order issue," he said. Vacant houses in different areas of the city are being used by gambling kingpins to organise professional gambling sessions. As per Mr Singh the kingpins usually get five to ten per cent of the total amount of money transacted at such den during a session which lasts throughout the night till wee hours.

Credit cards and bank pass books were seized from the Rautapeta and Housing Board gambling dens. A special squad under the SP is keeping track of these professional dens.

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