Police form special squads to check illegal gambling on election results

Mandya, Karnataka, Apr 21 :Amid reports on rampant illegal betting taking place in the Mandya district of Karnataka where a high stakes electoral battle is on between Nikhil K, son of chief minister H D Kumaraswamy and independent candidate and senior actor A Sumalata, police have formed special squads to check the menace.
Reports said people of the district were involved on a betting spree waging not just cash, but also agricultural land, cattle heads and even chicken, goats and sheep. The wager also includes tractors, agriculture equipment and others.
Sumalatha is posing a major challenge to Nikhil, with the election results likely to bring a major change in political calculations in the State and it may even have ultimate effect Janata Dal(S)-Congress government in Karnataka in the event JD(S) lose the seat in its stronghold.
With a heavy turn out in the elections held on April 18 in the first phase of Lok Sabha polls in Karnataka (second phase in the country) people allegedly indulged in gambling that was getting beyond limits.
Superintendent of Police Shivaprakash Devaraj told UNI that teams under District Crime Branch (DCB) will be on the prowl to check the menace. ‘’I have directed all sub-inspectors across the district to check gambling, which is illegal’’.
According to the SP, it is difficult to control or identify the people, if an individual is involved in betting. "But, organised gambling can be cracked down without much difficulty. The gamblers will be arrested and police are on high alert," he said.
The similar kind of illegal betting also taking place in the neighbouring districts also, however, the ‘loud voice’ is heard especially in Mandya.