NGO activists lock up ‘satta operator’

Our Correspondent

Abohar, June 25

Activists of NGO Shaheed Bhagat Singh Sangharsh Samiti late last night raided a shop near the Sriganganagar railway station and pulled down its shutters to detain its owner Ashu inside.

The “satta” tariff and booking details were prominently displayed as “lucky numbers” on the notice board fixed at the shop. The protesters alleged that the “satta mafia” had been running nefarious business acttivities in connivance with some “black sheep” in the state police.

The activists led by NGO president Hemender Singh Hemu staged a sit-in outside the shop and raised slogans seeking action against the “satta mafia” that had allegedly ruined hundreds of low-income families in the town.

The situation turned tense as Ashu’s friend Sunil tried to attack Hemu with an iron rod, but was stopped. Meanwhile, the police reached there and got the shutter opened. They took Ashu into custody and seized a bag full of “satta” slips, besides Rs 3,500 in cash.

The police later confirmed that Ashu has been held under the state government’s special law to prevent gambling. Sunil has also been booked under Section 144 of the CrPC. The officials denied having links with the mafia and said drive would be launched against such elements.