Over 630 gamblers arrested in special drive

Berhampur: Over 630 gamblers were arrested and more than Rs 23 lakh in cash was seized by the police in Ganjam district in the last 20 days in a special drive ahead of Kumar Purnima, which is celebrated on Monday.

Besides, 259 mobile phones and 51 motorbikes were also seized in raids carried out from Sept 15 to Oct 5. Police registered 97 cases during the period.

SP (Ganjam) Suvendu Patra said the drive will continue till Diwali.

“Earlier, gambling was practised openly in Ganjam and gamblers from other districts would also come here. But the gambling dens have reduced gradually due to police crackdown,” Prakash Chandra Panda, a silk city-based businessman, said.