Kathmandu, November 13

Police raided five different places in Kathmandu and arrested 49 persons for their alleged involvement in illegal gambling yesterday.

Seven persons were held from a rented house of Binay Thapa Magar at Bansbari. Cards and Rs 38,500 in cash were confiscated from the gambling den. Police said Thapa was among the gamblers taken into custody.

Police held five persons, including Kashi Gurung, with Rs 21,350  in cash and gambling materials,  from his rented house in Panchakanya, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-4. As many as 13 persons, including Sachit Dulal, were arrested with Rs 258,345, two bank cheques worth Rs 425,000 and kauda from Chobhar of Kirtipur Municipality-6. In yet another raid, police took 10 persons into custody from Halchowk of Nagarjun Municipality-3. Cash amounting to Rs 3.6 lakh and kauda were confiscated from the joint.

Police arrested 14 gamblers with Rs 215,175 and kadua from Nayapati of Gokarneshwor. Of late, the law enforcement agency has stepped up crackdown on gambling, which is punishable by law. Rani Pokhari-based Metropolitan Police Office, which oversees security of Kathmandu valley said at least 120 gambling dens were dismantled and 500 persons were arrested in two months.  After police intensified vigilance on casinos to curb the entry of Nepali gamblers there, habitual gamblers have converted hotels, restaurants, eateries, auto-workshops, pubs, bars and private offices and houses into gambling spots, said Senior Superintendent of Police Shyam Lal Gyawali.

All metropolitan police ranges, circles and sectors have formed anti-gambling squads in their concerned areas to swing into action whenever they receive information about gambling. He said police had put crackdown on gambling dens on top priority to combat crime in the society and domestic violence. Neighbours, wives and family members of the gamblers were among the key informants, who tipped-off local police offices about these gambling dens, said police.