Reported by Laxman Sharma
Digboi: In a decisive crackdown, Digboi Police busted a well-entrenched gambling racket operating in the town, arresting six persons and seizing cash along with other incriminating materials.
The operation was led by Co-District Superintendent of Police Himangshu Gohain on Sunday afternoon, acting on a confidential tip-off.
Police sources said the gambling network had been active in and around Digboi for a long time and was under close surveillance. Acting on precise intelligence, a police team raided the residence of Md Hasim, alias ‘Marshall’, at Lachit Nagar along the Digboi–Pengaree Road under Digboi Police Station in Tinsukia district.
Md Hasim, alias ‘Marshall’, was allegedly running an organised gambling operation on the ground floor of the premises, while the first floor housed a boys’ hostel.
Six individuals were caught red-handed during the raid. The accused include Madhav Rao, Arun Sirkey, Pankaj Das and Md Hasim, while two others are yet to be officially named by the police.
Madhav Rao is an employee of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (Assam Oil Division), posted in the Land and Revenue Section. Sources indicated that the arrested also include IOCL (AOD) employees, local businessmen, and a contractor, pointing to the racket’s organised and far-reaching network.
Cash and other objectionable items were recovered from the premises.
In a disturbing finding, police revealed that the upper floor of the building housed school and college-going students from nearby private institutions, exposing them to unlawful activities.
Further investigation is underway, with more arrests likely as police move to dismantle the wider network.