Nepal Police Suspect Emergence of Illegal Gambling Dens During Covid-19 Pandemic

The Nepal Police is suspecting that illegal gambling dens have thrived during the past six months of Covid-19 lockdown and restrictions.

Every year, Nepal Police crackdown on hundreds of illegal gambling dens which are operated mostly in private houses across the country. But during the coronavirus pandemic, not many raids have been conducted as the majority of security personnel are busy enforcing restrictions.

According to the data provided by the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari, a total of 22 people were rounded up from illegal gambling joints in Kathmandu Valley in the last six months.

“We have not conducted that many raids in private houses in the past six months, as our personnel are busy due enforcing Covid-19 restrictions,” said Senior Superintendent of Police, Sushil Kumar Yadav, spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Office, Ranipokhari.

Police have been conducting raids based on tip-offs while they have halted their own anti-gambling crackdown.

“The country’s law bars Nepali citizens from entering casinos with the intent of gambling, while hotels and restaurants are closed due to restriction due to which private houses become the dens for gamblers. So without getting a tip-off from family members or neighbours about it, raiding is difficult,” said Yadav.