the goan I network
PERNEM
Intense rivalry among matka bookies led one of them to tip-off the District Investigation Unit (DIU) at Porvorim, headed by SP Chandan Chowdhary, claimed locals, a day after a staggering Rs 59.34 lakh was seized in cash besides arrest of 11 persons in Morjim.
Locals disclosed that other matka bookies in the area panicked on the raid and shut down their dens on Saturday.
Speaking to The Goan, a reliable source disclosed that the matka den, which was raided on Friday, was being run by a matka agent since the last three years under the leadership of a major matka king from Siolim.
“The matka agent had engaged 12 youth to run the gambling business and had rented out the house from Reginald D’Costa. Matka bets collected from all over Morjim were brought to this den, from where it was being sent to Siolim,” said the source.
Meanwhile, the daring matka raid evoked widespread praise across Pernem taluka, but the local police came under intense fire for failing to curb the menace.
With matka gambling believed to be rampant all over Pernem taluka, there are growing expectations that this major raid on matka was not a one-off drive and that, similar
Matka has tacit support of
top ministers, says Sopte
PANAJI/PERNEM: Congress MLA Dayanand Sopte on Saturday claimed that gambling activities were thriving in his coastal Mandrem constituency because of tacit support of top ministers in the government who exert pressure on police officers not to act against illegal activities. Speaking on the sidelines of a Congress event, Sopte said, “Since the last one-and-half years, I have been raising my voice against rampant gambling in Pernem. It was painful to see Pernem police not paying attention to several complaints regarding this social evil.”
