Jayapur: In a swift operation, Jeypore Town Police busted an illegal gambling den at Parabeda’s Jiru Pathan Lane on Sunday and apprehended 15 persons involved in betting activities.
Acting on credible information received during routine gambling and excise raids, a police team from Jeypore Town Police Station raided the spot around 5:30 pm. The accused were caught red-handed while playing a popular local card game known as ‘Mangapatta’, in which they were betting money for monetary gains.
During the raid, police seized cash amounting to Rs 3,50,000, eight motorcycles, 15 mobile phones, 10 sealed packets of playing cards, and 52 loose playing cards.
A case has been registered under the Odisha Prevention of Gambling Act at Jeypore Town Police Station, and further investigation is in progress. Police said that out of the 15 persons arrested, five are habitual offenders who have been previously involved in gambling cases.
The habitual offenders have been identified as Ananta Basudev Panda (44), Rajendra Kumar Sahu (56), Tripati Panigrahi (52), Raghunath Nayak (49), and Deepak Kumar Nayak (38).
All 15 accused have been forwarded to court. Provisions of Section 112 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), relating to petty organized crime, have also been invoked against the repeat offenders.
The operation is part of the intensified drive by Jeypore police against illegal gambling activities in the region.
