Berhampur: Police have apprehended 45 persons for alleged gambling and recovered more than Rs 1 lakh during raids in one day in Odisha’s Berhampur under Ganjam district.

According to sources, since the people of the Silk City indulge in illegal gambling as a customary practice from the end of Dussehra till Kumar Purnami, the police have launched an operation to conduct raids on various places to stop the social menace.

During the raids on Wednesday, the Berhampur Police nabbed 45 persons while indulging in gambling and recovered the betting amount of Rs 1.91 lakh from their possession. Besides, 40 mobile phones and 77 motorcycles have also been seized.

The police apprehended 9 persons and seized Rs 19,200 from them during the raid in Ankuspur under Sadar police station, nabbed 8 persons and seized Rs 48,850 in Premnagar under Badabazaar police limits, 14 persons and Rs 27,100 in Phulasundari Sahi under Badabazaar, 13 persons and Rs 17,200 in Haridakhandi under Badabazaar, 7 persons and Rs 17,190 in Hosainnuagoan and nabbed 8 persons and seized Rs 62,270 in Gopalpur.

The police have warned that the raids on gambling places in the city would be intensified in the days to come.