We Love as Gambling an Integral Part of Kumar Purnima
Manoj Kanta Dash,Odishabarta
BERHAMPUR: Gambling is an integral part of Kumar Purnima in Berhampur Silk City. With a few days to go for the festival, most people in city have already started gambling in their homes Hotels and at some isolated places common phenomena of past many years. Soon after Ganesh Puja till end of Kumar Purnima the gamblers are more active in city and have already started playing in lakhs.
In order to escape from the hands of Police law, many reputed lodges meant for big players to gambling among friends and with lower stakes ranging to hundreds of rupees while others arrange get together of friends at homes to hold gambling sessions.
Come Dussera and Kumar Purnima and gambling fever grips in Berhampur city and across Ganjam.
Despite the strict vigilance of the police. This year, much before there has been a outbreak of activities to organise gambling sessions from the hawk’s eye of the cops
The organisers of the professional gambling dens keep changing their locations frequently. Stakes are quite high in these professional dens. Only those with deep pocket are allowed to enter these dens.
However, considering the grave social and financial impact of the practice, police continue to prevent it to the best of their capabilities.
According to available information during 2021 the raids conducted and Berhampur police have registered 16 gambling cases and apprehended 75 gamblers. An amount of Rs 3,80 lakhs in cash has been seized from them. Similarly, Ganjam police have apprehended around 150 gamblers and seized Rs 4, Lakhs on the eve of Kumar Purnima.
A few days before of the festival, most of the people in the city have already started playing in their homes with near and dears and mainly they opt for apartment flat. But, gambling ends up in either loss or gain.
There are cases when people lose their entire possessions and many who save throughout the year for the gambling season. While luck supports a few of them, there are several who lose their savings. There have been instances of people losing their property. The stakes range from Rs,100/- to Rs.lakhs.
The police raids over every years seem to have effect as gambling from Dussera to Kumar Purnima which has become a compulsive ritualistic practice among the people of all ages in Ganjam.
