23 Jun 2023  |   05:52am IST

Ponda locals oppose gambling activity

Team Herald

PONDA: Since the news of police raid on an illegal mini casino near Sapna Park on Betoda Road in Khandepar Panchayat area on Wednesday has spread like a wild fire, residents of Curti-Ponda have vehemently opposed to any kind of gambling activity in the area.

Social activist Viraj Sapre said that people are firmly opposed to legal or illegal gambling activity here. He recalled that in his area there have been unfortunate incidents in the past where people lost their money to gambling and went broke. 

“In one incident, a young businessman after losing money in gambling had become bankrupt and committed suicide. We don’t want such culture to germinate here. It’s not suitable in this holy region. Our area is neither a beach-side nor a gambling den,” Sapre said.

Curti-Khandepar Panch Nilkant Naik said he would never support gambling in his area. “We want our youth safe from evil forces like casino. People in my ward yesterday informed me about a casino operating in my ward. I, along with some of the parents, immediately informed police and requested it to raid the premises. We suspect there are more than one gambling dens operating in various parts of Ponda Taluka, which the police need to find out,” Naik said.