Srinagar, Mar 21: As many as 22 gamblers including a kingpin who used to facilitate the illegal gaming in the City were held Monday during twin raids in Shahr-e-Khaas, police said.
 It said the gamblers were caught red-handed with the total bet of around `1.50 lakhs while a Tata 407 cab inside which a group was playing was also seized.
 Police said 10 gamblers were held from Gratabal area of Nawa Kadal whereas 12 others were held from Shaheen Mohalla, Noor Bagh from the passenger bus. A bet of `1,30, 446  and `10, 780 were recovered from their possession, from the twin areas, respectively.
 Giving details, the Superintendent of Police North City Shokat Shah said it was a major grab in the recent past where not only a big number of gamblers but the kingpin behind the shady gaming was also held.
 The SP identified the accused as Bashir alias Munda of Nawa Kadal.
 Police said the interesting facet of the gambling was that Munda had a huge network of clients spread across the Valley who would come to his City hideouts for the play.
 “Even today those held included gamblers from Qazigund and Pampore areas,” Shah told Greater Kashmir.
 He said Munda had hideouts spread over various City areas like Shiv Pora, Batamaloo, Lal Bazar and Zoonimar.
 “Munda would mostly fix the gambling for Fridays, Sundays or gazetted holidays and the teams would be informed about the gaming venues on mobile phone,” he said.
 Shah said the gamblers used to get a “variety of recreation.”
  “Frequent tea and Kanti used to be in the routine menu while for bigger clients he(Munda) would even arrange Wazwaan feast,” the official said.
 He said Munda would get around 10 percent of share from the winners booty while others would offer him some percentage of their bets. “Munda had created a hype in the markets that he would provide gambling in fool proof way and with the best of the facilities … But finally we caught him,” the SP said.
 He sought public co-operation in curbing the menace of gambling and drug addiction.
 “Today’s grab also couldn’t have been successful without the public cooperation and we hope the respected citizens of every Mohalla will help us in the endeavor,” the SP said.
 Pertinently on the instructions of IGP Shiv Murari Sahai, the police is conducting the special drive against social evils.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Mar 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 Mar 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 IST