Indian Police arrests over 500 person for gambling during festival season

The police in the Indian state of Odisha have arrested as many 500 persons for gambling during the celebrations of the festival Kumar Purnima. These were illegally and informally set up temporary gambling dens, catering the people in the festive mood.

Police also seised three bikes, six mobile phones and cash of Rs. 5,325 (63.95 EUR) from their possession.

“Acting on a tip off, we conducted raid at the gambling den and caught 11 persons in the night on Tuesday in Bharatpur village,” said Rakesh Kumar Tripathy, inspector-in-charge of Balichandrapur police station in Jajpur district.

Gambling goes on for several days, in most villages during the Kumara Purnima festival, also called Lakshmi puja.

The festival is observed five days after Dussehra. As gambling is considered as part of the Kumar Purnima celebrations, many such dens open in nook and corner of Ganjam district and in other districts also, the officer added.