Nizamabad: Ignoring police restrictions, gamblers from across the district indulged in betting on Thursday and Friday, spending lakhs of rupees. Residential areas, isolated locations, and rice mills became major gambling hubs. Gambling during the Deepavali season has long been an open secret.
Police conducted raids on gambling points within the Nizamabad, Armoor, and Bodhan police divisions, resulting in the arrest of 597 individuals.
Following a directive from the in-charge Police Commissioner, Ch. Sindhu Sharma, authorities established a control room to prevent gambling activities. During these operations, police registered 116 cases and seized Rs 11.47 lakh.
The highest number of cases, 53, were registered in the Nizamabad division, where 267 gamblers were arrested. In the Armoor division, 138 persons were arrested in connection with 26 cases, and Rs 2.85 lakh was seized. Within the Bodhan division, police arrested 192 individuals in relation to 37 cases and seized Rs 3.58 lakh.
In Kamareddy district, police registered 42 cases against 309 gamblers over the last three days. Rs 7.79 lakh in cash and 146 mobiles were seized from the accused.