Odisha Police Ganjam Gambling Crackdown, raid: 470 arrested, over ₹ 12.65 lakh seized from Kumar Purnima

Odisha Police has conducted a massive operation targeting gamblers. According to Odisha Police, 470 people were arrested for gambling from Ganjam and Berhampur police districts in front of Kumar Purnima in two days.

On Wednesday evening, the police arrested 167 people and detained more than ₹5.56 million in connection with 32 gambling cases registered in two police districts, the police said, according to PTI.

Intervention against gambling

250 people were arrested on Thursday ₹7.09 crore was seized in Ganjam police district, while Berhampur police busted 10 gambling dens and arrested 53 people.

All the accused have been booked under the Orissa Prevention of Gambling Act, police said.

Eight more people were arrested by the Berhampur police late on Friday night, according to local media reports.

Gambling traditionally takes place in several parts of Ganjam district in the run-up to Kumar Purnima, which falls five days after Dussehra.

This year, Kumar Purnima will be celebrated on October 25.

This practice is prevalent in several villages where people gather at night to play as part of the festivities. In some places, the activity continues till Diwali.

Police said the crackdown would continue over the next few days.

“We have advised people not to indulge in activities that violate the law,” said Ganjam SP Harish BC.

“We have already directed police stations to crack down on game dens and arrest those involved in this illegal practice,” said Berhampur SP Abhinav Sonkar.

Last week, police arrested at least 71 people, including businessmen and government employees, and a former Andhra Pradesh police officer was arrested in a raid at a gambling den in Deviti village under Paralakhemundi police limits in Gajapati.

The police arrested him ₹12.03 lakh cash, 954 playing cards, 102 betting chips, currency counting machine, 60 mobile phones and nine quad bikes on site.

Gambling during Kumar Purnima

Under the Orissa Prevention of Gambling Act, 1955, the state government strictly prohibits all forms of public gambling and the operation of “community gambling halls” for games of pure chance.

Although gambling still remains illegal, it is a deep-rooted cultural or ritualistic practice in Ganjam and Berhampur districts during Kumar Purnima.