No check on gambling by autorickshaw drivers

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, October 20

Open gambling goes unchecked at the railway station. Several autorickshaw drivers can be seen gambling at the autorickshaw stand that lies right in front of railway station. Although the practice is made strictly prohibited by the Police Commissionerate, the auto-rikshaw drivers are blatantly playing cards with money.

Moreover the activity prevails at a public space right under the nose of police personnel deployed at the railway station. Officials at the Government Railway Police (GRP) police station that lies 100 meters away from the auto-

rickshaw stand are not aware about it. Some autorickshaw drivers also gamble in drunken mood.

One of the shopkeeper, pleading anonymity, said, “ This is the daily practice of autorickshaw drivers. After parking their autos, they sit on the ground and play cards, most of the time small disputes leads to arguments among drivers.” Another commuter, Rajesh Kumar, who parks his vehicle at the station said, “Most of the time while returning from his work he has noticed some unidentified persons playing cards.”

Cops are not taking any action against them. Besides, miscreants were also found gambling outside the Fenton Ganj Girls Senior Seconday School. Students stated that these miscreants sit outside the school and make the path uneasy for girls.

Station House Officer, Satpal Singh, said, he was not aware about such activity exists outside the railway station, adding that he would look into the matter shortly.

Whereas the DCP Investigation Gurmeet Singh said the Commissioner had passed orders to all in charges of police stations that open gambling practice should be banned, falling under his jurisdiction and cases should be registered against the culprits.

Pertaining to this, cops deployed at Division No six have registered a case under the ‘Gambling Act’ against 11 persons involved in gambling at Abadpura locality.