Kathmandu, June 17 Police raided three gambling parlours in different places of Kathmandu valley and arrested 34 persons, including four women, for illegal betting and gambling yesterday. As many as 16 gamblers were arrested with Rs 452,600 and gambling materials, including kauda (a game played with 16 sea shells), from Green Peace Resort in Mudhkhu of Tarkeshwor Municipality-32. Police said they carried out a raid based on information provided by the locals. Similarly, police held six persons with playing cards and Rs 269,665 from a house in Koteshwor. In yet another raid, 12 gamblers were arrested with playing cards and Rs 95,652 from a house in Duwakot of Bhaktapur. According to Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, over 440 gamblers have been arrested from different places of the Kathmandu valley as part of crackdown on gambling, which is punishable under the existing laws, since February 13. SSP Biswha Raj Pokharel, MPR in-charge, informed that around 150 cops were mobilised to ensure strict surveillance on gambling dens and take immediate action. Police investigations show that gambling and crimes are interlinked as gamblers are more likely to commit crimes and use family property to satiate their addiction to gambling. Crimes are also likely to occur at gambling venues over betting. It is also one of many reasons of domestic violence. Retired government employees, businesspersons and contractors top the chart of gamblers. All the gamblers were booked under the Gambling Act, 1963, but officials say this is not to deter seasoned gamblers and operators of gambling dens as they easily get off the hook by paying a meagre fine of Rs 200 for the first instance and four-day police detention.